IVSA Buyer’s Tasting Salon is coming to Kelowna!

Visit www.ivsa.ca for more details.

• Royal Anne Hotel, 348 Bernard Ave, Kelowna

• Tuesday, April 9, 2024

• Walkaround Tasting 11:30 - 3pm

This is an industry-only event. RSVP to admin@ivsa.ca

IVSA Buyer’s Tasting Salon is back in Victoria!

Visit www.ivsa.ca for more details.

• Marriott Inner Harbour Hotel, 728 Humbolt St, Victoria

• Wednesday, April 3, 2024

• Walkaround Tasting 11:30 - 3pm

This is an industry-only event. RSVP to admin@ivsa.ca

This 2-hour session focuses on the highlights of successful retention strategies, from the first employee engagement to long-term staff from the lenses of human resources, health and safety and employee wellness. Taking into consideration shifting workplace paradigms and strong job-seeker focus on positive workplace culture, you’ll receive tips, resources and take-away tools designed to boost employee engagement, increase productivity, and foster a positive and inclusive workplace culture, all of which can contribute to long-term retention through safer spaces and healthier employees.

Click here to register.

Each of these sessions are a 45-minute powerhouse of essential information and key take-aways, followed by a 10-minute Q&A! Expect slide decks, print and QR resources, and practical tools in each interactive session. Participants can attend all 3 or any combination of the sessions. See the agenda below for the details on each session:

Human Resources - Employee Relations: The Essentials

Mental Health - The Intersection of EDI and Psychological Health & Safety

Health & Safety - WorkSafeBC OHS Regulatory Changes – What employers need to know

Click here to register.

Comox Business Matters - Speaker & Mixer Series Presents:

Tips, Trends and Tackling Challenges for Food and Beverage Businesses

• February 8, 2024

• Church St Taphouse, 215 Church Street Comox, BC V9M 1X7

• Guest Speakers:

  • Jeff Guignard, ABLE BC Executive Director

  • Ian Tostenson, BCRFA Executive Director

Click here to register

IVSA Buyer’s Tasting Salon Spirits Only is back in Vancouver! This walk-around tasting is an industry-only event.

• The Vancouver Club, 915 W Hastings St, Vancouver

• February 7, 2024

• Masterclass Seminar 11:30-12:30, featuring 3 unique Spirits presentations

• Walkaround Tasting 12:30 - 3pm

This is an industry-only event. RSVP to admin@ivsa.ca

Your RSVP must include: Full name (first, last), Company name/website

WORTH Association (Women of Recreation, Tourism & Hospitality) is proud to present Yes Shef: Elevating Women in Food & Beverage. On November 6th, 2023, join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the remarkable women of British Columbia's hospitality community.

During this unique culinary experience, guests will enjoy tasting stations throughout the Fairmont Pacific Rim's stunning Star Sapphire Ballroom, savouring delights crafted and curated by female-led teams. Noteworthy Chefs will collaborate with student apprentices from the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts to develop and execute a signature dish. Leading Winemakers, Sommeliers, Brewers and Bar Professionals will serve wine, beer and cocktail creations.

Participating Chefs include: 

• Nutcha Phanthoupheng, Baan Lao Fine Thai Cuisine

• Eleanor Chow, Cadeau

• Tia Kambas, Chambar

• Pricilla Deo, Folke

• Marisa Flores, Hawksworth

• Yasmin Shariff, Kilimanjaro Snack House

• Maria Ponce, La Taqueria

• Stacy Johnston and Minette Lotz, Poplar Grove

• Ying Ying Gao, Riley’s Fish and Steak

• Donya Darreh Shouri, Seaside Provisions

• Top Chef’s Siobhan Detkavich

• With select Chefs from Cactus Club, Fairmont, and Les Dames Escoffier

Participating Beverage Professionals include:

• Nikki Callaway, O’Rourke Family Estate

• Severine Pinte, Le Vieux Pin & La Stella

• Lyndsay O’Rourke,  Tightrope Winery

• Shiva Reddy and Alexia David, Burdock and Co

• Britt Hoorne, Bar Susu 

• Reverie Beall, AnnaLena

• With Bar Talent from Cactus Club, Fairmont, and Glowbal

Event Timeline:
5:30PM - Tasting & Mingle
6:30PM - Live Music
8:30PM - Awards Presentation
9:45PM - Silent Auction Closes

Included in the Ticket:
✔️ Tasting Stations from 15 of BC's Top Female Chefs
✔️ Wine & Beverage Tastings from Canada's Top Beverage Professionals and Companies
✔️ Opportunity to Meet the Leaders of BC's Recreation, Tourism & Hospitality Industry
✔️ Opportunity to Bid on Fabulous Prizes at our Silent Auction

Ticket Pricing:
$200 General Admission
$175 Early Bird WORTH Member Pricing

Proceeds from ticket sales will contribute directly to scholarships and the development of essential programming and resources that pave the way for the next generation of hospitality leaders.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available, please email yesshef@worthassociation.com for more details. 

LOCATION

Fairmont Pacific Rim, V6C 0B9

Buy tickets

IVSA Buyers Tasting Salon is back in Vancouver! This walk-around tasting is an industry-only event.

Buyer's Import Liquor Trade Tasting
Limited Priority access for:

• LRS and Licensee Buyers and Managers

• Sommeliers, Wine Directors, Proprietors, Bar Managers, Chefs

• BCLS: Store Managers and Product Consultants

• Logistics, Consulate, Media Industry partners.

  RSVP to admin@ivsa.ca

  Agents showcase the newest imported wines, spirits & beers.
  Also look for unique featured imports.

  
  Licensees: Buyers, sommeliers, proprietors, wine directors,
  chefs, bar managers, general managers.
  BCLS: Managers and PCs 

IVSA Buyers Tasting Salon is back in Victoria! This walk-around tasting is an industry-only event.

Buyer's Import Liquor Trade Tasting
Limited Priority access for:

• LRS and Licensee Buyers and Managers

• Sommeliers, Wine Directors, Proprietors, Bar Managers, Chefs

• BCLS: Store Managers and Product Consultants

• Logistics, Consulate, Media Industry partners.

  RSVP to admin@ivsa.ca

  Agents showcase the newest imported wines, spirits & beers.
  Also look for unique featured imports.

  
  Licensees: Buyers, sommeliers, proprietors, wine directors,
  chefs, bar managers, general managers.
  BCLS: Managers and PCs 

The Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) is seeking feedback on temporary relocations for liquor retailers in BC, including Licensee Retail Stores (LRS), Wine Stores, and government liquor stores.

As part of the feedback process, ABLE BC is hosting a Q&A webinar next week with LCRB officials. Join us on Thursday, October 5th at 11:00 am to ask your questions and provide your feedback on this topic. 

Q&A Webinar Details:

Date: Thursday, October 5, 2023

Time: 11:00 am

Location: zoom

A liquor retailer cannot relocate permanently within a 1 km radius of another retailer, except in limited circumstances. The 1 km rule is a cornerstone policy priority for ABLE BC that we will fight to maintain in perpetuity. Since introduced, it has provided vital market stability and prevented densification. Many current Licensee Retail Store (LRS) and BC Liquor Store (BCL) locations were approved before this rule came into effect.  

Under current rules, if an LRS or BCL is unable to operate at their licensed location due to significant renovations or redevelopment, the licensee can choose to:

• Temporarily close the location until the location can resume operation (i.e., place the licence into “dormancy”); or,

• Permanently relocate to an eligible new location.

There is currently no provision that allows a liquor retailer to temporarilyrelocate or that allows a licence to relate to more than one establishment.

While a policy allowing temporary relocation to accommodate renovations or renovictions has merit, it raises important considerations of eligibility, location requirements, and time limit. 

Click here for more information.

Q&A Webinar Details:

Date: Thursday, October 5, 2023

Time: 11:00 am

Location: zoom

LCRB Officials:

• Sarah Gosman, Director, Policy and Legislation

• Jessica Sharpe, Senior Manager, Liquor Policy

Moderator:

• Jeff Guignard, ABLE BC Executive Director

If you have questions or trouble registering, please contact ann@ablebc.ca.

If you are unable to attend this Q&A, you can submit your feedback in one of two ways.

 Fill out ABLE BC's liquor store temporary relocation engagement survey:

Click here for the survey.

Send your comments directly to the LCRB:

Email LCRB.Outreach@gov.bc.ca with the subject “ temporary relocation consultation” by October 5, 2023. We would appreciate you copying jeff@ablebc.ca on your response.

Your submission should include:

• Full name of person submitting

• Name of the business/organization and license number, if applicable

• Municipality or regional district in which your store is located

• Phone number, including area code, and reply email address

Each year the Victoria International Wine Festival welcome the Trade to attend our exclusive tasting session.

This session runs from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm on the Friday of the event.

All guests are asked to register for this tasting. 

Entry is based on a donation at the event itself. Please bring cash to donate to our selected charity. We suggested a donation of $15. 

Click here to register

Preventing the sale of liquor and cannabis to minors is a key priority for the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB). The Minors as Agents Program (MAP) is one of the LCRB’s tool for monitoring licensees’ compliance with the prohibition against selling of liquor and cannabis to minors.

 While we share government’s goal of keeping controlled substances out of the hands of minors, industry’s MAP compliance rate for the first quarter of 2023 was only 81 per cent. This webinar will provide a better understanding of due diligence practices to help you ace a MAP visit.

Please join senior officials from the LCRB—Ian Brown, Deputy General Manager and Executive Director, Compliance and Enforcement, and Maria Caduhada, Manager, Dispute Resolution and Branch Registrar—for a discussion of the MAP initiative. Ian will explain the program and clarify what minor agents do during an inspection. Maria will offer an overview of enforcement hearings and provide insight into the essentials of an effective due diligence defence. 

We will also be joined by an expert licensing consultant who will review due diligence resources for your business.

This webinar is free for ABLE BC members! Simply login to the member portal to register now.

Non-members may attend for $10.00. Not a member yet? Sign up today to gain free access to this webinar and all other ABLE BC resources.

IVSA Buyers Tasting Salon is back in Vancouver! This walk-around tasting is an industry-only event.

Buyer's Import Liquor Trade Tasting
Limited Priority access for:

• LRS and Licensee Buyers and Managers

• Sommeliers, Wine Directors, Proprietors, Bar Managers, Chefs

• BCLS: Store Managers and Product Consultants

• Logistics, Consulate, Media Industry partners.

  RSVP to admin@ivsa.ca

  Agents showcase the newest imported wines, spirits & beers.
  Also look for unique featured imports.

  
  Licensees: Buyers, sommeliers, proprietors, wine directors,
  chefs, bar managers, general managers.
  BCLS: Managers and PCs 

BC Environment Ministry & Innovative Entrepreneurs Tackle Single-Use Plastic Challenges

Monday, September 18, 2023 - 10:00 AM - 11:15 AM PT

Hosted by Restaurants Canada's very own Mark von Schellwitz, Vice-President, Western Canada, join us for an informative webinar where British Columbia Environment Ministry Officials will provide a comprehensive presentation on the critical topic of single-use plastic regulation.

This event aims to shed light on essential aspects, identify sustainable alternatives, and offer additional insights for individuals and businesses operating within regions subject to local government single-use plastic bylaws.

After that, SkipTheDishes will dive into an engaging discussion with two visionary entrepreneurs, representing Friendlier Company and ShareWares.

Explore their journeys and what inspired them to spearhead the movement towards a circular economy in British Columbia.

Discover the challenges they overcame and the innovative solutions they bring to the table for all foodservice operators.