Industry Award - Front of House : Bobby Copiak

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Bobby made his way to the West Coast and to Victoria in the late 1970's. It was a friend that encouraged him to enter the restaurant business after sharing many a dinner party at his home.

Sharing food, wine and creating a mood was a passion.

In Victoria Bobby met and worked under Gianni Picchi, who had just arrived from Winston's in Toronto, which started a long friendship and career with Gianni.

The World came to Vancouver in 1986 and so did Bobby, working at Expo and starting his career at IL Giardino di Umberto. The beauty of IL Giardino, it's cultural and culinary roots and Umberto's passion to extend that to everyone was inspiring. People from around the world came through the doors of IL Giardino...Vancouver was coming of age. Bobby would head off to Tuscany to Umberto's eighty acre Villa Delia Cooking School to welcome guests there and to immerse himself in the food, wine and culture of Tuscany. He also made his way to Whistler to work at Umberto's IL Cammenito.

Dedication and determination to the industry are corner stones for Bobby as he continues to serve the friend's of IL Giardino and seeks to showcase Vancouver to the world and to Vancouverities.