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About Culinary Federation

Our Mission

The goal of the Culinary Federation is to unite chefs and cooks across Canada in a common dedication to professional excellence. The Culinary Federation (CF) was founded in 1963 and incorporated in Ottawa as a non-profit association in 1972. Since its inception, the federation has enjoyed a deep and long-standing tradition as Canada's true representation of the professional chef and cook. 

Throughout its history as Canada's largest federally chartered professional chefs' organization, the name of the federation has undergone several changes to recognize the chef's continually changing role in the kitchen and education. From 1963-1982 the organization was called the Canadian Federation of Chefs de Cuisine. When the importance and role of the professional cook was recognized, the name was changed to the Canadian Federation of Chefs & Cooks. In 2003, when “inclusion” was the buzzword, it became necessary to recognize other competencies in culinary arts without forsaking the basic food preparation skills of a qualified cook, baker, or pastry cook.

Membership in the Culinary Federation is available to any and all persons who actively seek and involve their career paths as a Cook Apprentice, Journeyman Cook, Professional Chef/Cook, or Culinary Professional.

The Federation is a federally chartered, not-for-profit organization, and is managed by a member-elected board of directors. Its membership is derived from Regional and City Branches who maintain their affiliation with the CF by way of the charter and acceptance of National Bylaws.

The business of the CF is presented at recognized annual conferences open to all members, invited guests, and persons or organizations associated with the hospitality industry.

Chef of the Year

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  • 1969
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  • 1967
  • 1966
  • 1965
  • 2024

    Paul Hoag

    CF Toronto, ON Branch
  • 2023

    Adelina Sisti de Blasis

    CF Windsor, ON Branch
  • 2022

    Keith Hoare

    CF Oakville, ON Branch
  • 2021

    Shonah Chalmers

    CF Toronto, ON Branch
  • 2020

    Peter Keith

    CF Edmonton, AB Branch
  • 2019

    Carmelo Vadacchino

    CF Oakville, ON Branch
  • 2018

    Irwin G. MacKinnon

    CF Prince Edward Island, PEI Branch
  • 2017

    John-Carlo Felicella

    CF Vancouver, BC Branch
  • 2016

    Ryan Marquis

    CF Oakville, ON Branch
  • 2015

    John Scurrey

    CF St. John's, NL Branch
  • 2014

    Douglas Overes, C.C.C.

    CF Lethbridge, AB Branch
  • 2013

    Jacques Lepage †

    CF Outaouais, QC Branch
  • 2012

    Debbie Clauss

    CF Lethbridge, AB Branch
  • 2011

    Willi Franz

    CF Okanagan, BC Branch
  • 2010

    John-Carlo Felicella

    CF Vancouver, BC Branch
  • 2009

    Hans Anderegg

    CF Prince Edward Island, PEI Branch
  • 2008

    Blake Chapman

    CF Calgary, AB Branch
  • 2007

    Mark B. Davie

    CF Victoria, BC Branch
  • 2006

    Richard Chiasson,CCC

    CF Moncton, NB Branch
  • 2005

    Judson W. Simpson

    CF Ottawa, ON Branch
  • 2004

    John Reimers

    CF Winnipeg, MB Branch
  • 2003

    Pierre Clément

    CF Outaouais, QC Branch
  • 2002

    George Wagner

    CF Victoria, BC Branch
  • 2001

    Clayton Folkers

    CF Edmonton, AB Branch
  • 2000

    Fred Zimmerman

    CF Calgary, AB Branch
  • 1999

    Michael Noble

    CF Vancouver, BC Branch
  • 1998

    Simon Smotkowicz

    CF Edmonton, AB Branch
  • 1997

    Bruno Marti

    CF Vancouver, BC Branch
  • 1996

    Roy Butterworth

    CF Moncton, NB Branch
  • 1995

    Bud Bremner

    CF Nova Scotia Branch
  • 1994

    Gerald Philippe

    CF Outaouais, QC Branch
  • 1993

    Culinary Team

    Canada
  • 1992

    George Chauvet

    CF Moncton, NB Branch
  • 1991

    Vince DiNillo †

    CF St. John's, NL Branch
  • 1990

    Ron Long †

    CF Winnipeg, MB Branch
  • 1989

    Alex Clavel †

    CF Nova Scotia Branch
  • 1988

    Arthur Raynor

    CF Calgary, AB Branch
  • 1987

    Willy Brand †

    CF Toronto, ON Branch
  • 1986

    Tony Cassagrande †

    CF Ottawa, ON Branch
  • 1985

    Bruce Wilson

    CF Vancouver, BC Branch
  • 1984

    Paul Mastilir

    CF Calgary, AB Branch
  • 1983

    Fred Briggs

    CF Nova Scotia Branch
  • 1982

    Henry Dane

    CF Nanaimo, BC Branch
  • 1981

    Marcel Kretz, C.M., C.Q.

    CF Outaouais, QC Branch
  • 1980

    Leo Teyeman

    CF Nanaimo, BC Branch
  • 1979

    Marcel Hemery

    CF Edmonton, AB Branch
  • 1978

    Fred Staheli

    CF Toronto, ON Branch
  • 1977

    Tony Roland

    CF Toronto, ON Branch
  • 1976

    Henry Bachman

    CF Edmonton, AB Branch
  • 1974

    Hans Bueschkens

    CF Windsor, ON Branch
  • 1973

    Pierre Demers

    CF Muskoka, ON Branch
  • 1972

    Xavier Hetzman †

    CF Vancouver, BC Branch
  • 1971

    John Schmied

    CF Winnipeg, MB Branch
  • 1969

    Don Cutler †

    CF Winnipeg, MB Branch
  • 1968

    Martin Elgeti

    CF Edmonton, AB Branch
  • 1967

    Richard Middleton

    CF Nova Scotia Branch
  • 1966

    Angelo Cassagrande †

    CF Ottawa, ON Branch
  • 1965

    Tony Didier

    CF Toronto, ON Branch

National Executive

National President
Ryan Marquis
Board Chair
Douglas Overes, C.C.C.
National Secretary
Brent Durec
National Treasurer

David Franklin

VP Eastern Region
Irwin G. MacKinnon
VP Central Region
Phil Cameron
VP Western Region
Ron Wong
Independent Board Member
Mark Thompson
Independent Board Member
Steve Harding
Canadian Culinary Institute
Ganesh Subramanya

Young Chef Representatives

Young Chef Liason
Rebecca van Bommel
Western Region
Sue Cahoon
Central Region
Ivan Milenovic
Eastern Region
Rebecca Reardon

National Committee Chairs

Ethics
Lesley Stav
Membership
Vince Capitano
Bylaws
Debbie Clauss
Honour Society Chair
Vincenzo Del Duca

Administrative Team

National Administrator
Lisa Evangelos
Communications & Conference Manager
Sue Mercer

Past Presidents

  • Donald A. Gyurkovits
    Donald A. Gyurkovits
    2011 - 2017
    CF Vancouver, BC - Branch
  • Judson W. Simpson
    Judson W. Simpson
    2006 - 2011
    CF Ottawa, ON - Branch
  • Bruno Marti
    Bruno Marti
    2002 - 2006
    CF Vancouver, BC - Branch
  • Cornelia Volino
    Cornelia Volino
    1998 - 2002
    CF Toronto, ON - Branch
  • Guy Ethier
    Guy Ethier
    1996 - 1998
    CF Vancouver, BC - Branch
  • Julius Pokomandy
    Julius Pokomandy
    1994 - 1996
    CF Vancouver, BC - Branch
  • Arthur Raynor
    Arthur Raynor
    1992 - 1994
    CF Calgary, AB - Branch
  • Bruce Wilson
    Bruce Wilson
    1988 - 1992
    CF Vancouver, BC - Branch
  • George Chauvet
    George Chauvet
    1982 - 1988
    CF Moncton, NB - Branch
  • Henry Dane
    Henry Dane
    1978 - 1981
    CF Vancouver, BC - Branch
  • Hans Bueschkens
    Hans Bueschkens
    1976 - 1977
    CF Windsor, ON - Branch
  • Marcel Hemery
    Marcel Hemery
    1970 - 1971
    CF Edmonton, AB - Branch
  • John Schmied
    John Schmied
    1968 - 1969
    CF Toronto, ON - Branch
  • Martin Elgeti
    Martin Elgeti
    1966 - 1967
    CF Edmonton, AB - Branch
  • Angelo Cassagrande
    Angelo Cassagrande
    1963 - 1965
    CF Edmonton, AB - Branch
  • Simon Smotkowicz
    Simon Smotkowicz
    2017 - 2019
    CF Edmonton, AB - Branch

    The delegates of the first meeting of the Canadian Federation of Chefs, April 22-23, 1963.
    Back row: Henry Bachman, Anthony Casagrande, Andre Pittit, Stuart McLeod, Nick Marchak, Peter Ferenczy, Marcel Hemery, Xaviar Hietzman.
    Middle row: Lynn McLeod, Einar Neilson, Valentino Alsoisio, Bert Bouwmeester, Fred Kovacs, Henry Duguay, Art Munger, Bill Schmidts.
    Bottom row: Martin Elgeti, Don Cutler, Angelo Casagrande, Bill Walsh, Norm Gibeault.
    Not pictured: John Latham, Jack Sawchuk, Don Campbell, Joe Lentz, Walliy Shew.
    Monday, April 22nd, 1963. Breakfast Host Macdonald Hotel. M.W. Elgeti in Chair, with the following members present:


    Moved by Angelo Casagrande, seconded by W. Shaw and carried, that Mr. S. E. Chambers, General Manager of CNR Hotels, and Mr. R. A. Mackie, General Manager of CPR Hotels Limited, be made Honorary Charter Life Members of the Canadian Federation of Chefs de Cuisine.

    After considerable discussion regarding expenses and payment thereof, it was moved by Mr. W. Shaw, seconded by Mr, T. Aloisio and carried, that the Convention expenses be defrayed on a per capita basis.

    Moved by Mr. H. Doguet, seconded by Mr, H. Bachman and carried, that $10.00 be paid by every delegate attending this Convention to defray expenses.

    It was further moved by Mr. X. Hetzman, seconded by Mr. W, Shaw, and carried, that it be incorporated in the Constitution that an initiation fee of $5.00 be charged to each member joining the Federation.

    At present membership in the various local associations is as follows:

    Winnipeg 21, Vancouver 32, Edmonton 20, lone members 3 - a total of 76.

    Regarding the next Convention, Mr. D. Cutler presented an invitation from the Winnipeg Association that they host the next Convention of The Canadian Federation of Chefs de Cuisine. It was agreed that the next convention to be held in Winnipeg on or after April 15th, 1964, the setting of the exact date to be left to the Winnipeg Association.

    Moved by Tony Casagrande, seconded by Andre Pittet and carried, that The Canadian Restaurant Association, the Hotel Association, and the Innkeepers Association be honorary members of the Federation.

    The newly elected Secretary is to be instructed to send letters to the Hotel Association, Restaurant Association, and Innkeepers Association advising that The Canadian Federation of Chefs de Cuisine has been formed and suggesting that if we can be of any assistance to them to call on us.

    On Motion of Henry Bachman, seconded by Henry Doquet and carried, the following is to be accepted as the Code of Ethics of members of this Federation:

    "I hereby embrace this code of ethics as laid down by this association and I certify that I will supervise to the best of my ability the following traditional duties of the Executive Chef: Co-operation with Management, kitchen and serving staff; food cost control; menus planning; payroll control; public relations with staff and management; research of new dishes and equipment; inventory and buying; complete sanitation and upgrading of kitchen staff; and above all, to supervise the serving of palate-pleasing and attractive dishes and generally uphold the dignity of my profession and The Canadian Federation of Chefs de Cuisine. I shall place honor and the standing of our profession before personal advantage. I shall not use unfair means to effect any professional advancement or to injure the chance of another colleague to secure or hold employment."

    With reference to a National crest, it was moved by Mr, X. Hetzman, seconded by Mr. W. Shaw, and carried, that the new crest will be as the crest of the Winnipeg Association and that it be on a background of a Maple Leaf, and that an artist be asked to submit a design of such crest for the approval of the Executive.

    It was suggested that each local Association have a design of their own for lapel pins and that each association submit their design to the Federation Secretary from which a national design will be chosen at the next convention,

    It was agreed that all members who joined the Federation at its inception be Charter Members.

    It was agreed that uniform membership cards be printed for members of the Federation. New cards will be issued each year to members in good standing – each year cards will be of a different color.

    It was agreed that each Association send in written reports monthly to inform the National Executive Board of their month's activities.

    Mr. Dan Campbell, in speaking of the use of the crest, suggested that all hotels and people who employ Chefs de Cuisine should be required and encouraged to use the crest in their front windows, on menus, stationery, literature, and on advertising in national and international publications. This is most important from the viewpoint of tourism as a prestige symbol. He also suggested that Provincial Governments should be encouraged to print the crest in their Tourist Guides denoting places to eat.

    Mr. M. Elgeti suggested that this information be passed on to all local committees to act on as they see fit.