SUPPORTING PARTNER
Active Restaurateur : Geoffrey Howes Director of Operations, Toseki Entertainment LtdGeoffrey has worked in virtually all aspects of the hospitality industry, from chef to waiter to owner and manager. From humble beginnings in rural England, he received his diploma in Hotel and Restaurant Management in Cambridge with a distinction in Basic & Advanced French Cooking. He then began his career cooking at the prestigious Savoy Hotel in London, UK. After two years he decided to see the world – and that he did! His resume is varied, spanning several oceans and many great adventures that eventually lead him to Vancouver at the age of 21. After working with his mentor, renowned Vancouver restaurateur Bud Kanke at The Cannery for 6 years, Geoffrey moved to Squamish where he opened and ran a restaurant called The Black Bear, before moving back to the city as General Manager at Salmon House on the Hill in West Vancouver. Today, as Director of Operations for Toseki Entertainment Ltd., he is responsible for the day-to-day operation of three fine dining restaurants, The Salmon House, Aqua Riva Restaurant & Bar in downtown Vancouver and Horizons in Burnaby. As notable as his work in restaurants, is his dedication improving the profile of the restaurant industry in Vancouver and his work has helped make this city one of the top dining destinations in the world. Geoffrey served 12 years with the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association: as Government Relations Chairman, Chairman and in the role of Past Chairman. He was instrumental in modernizing liquor licensing regulations and flexible labour policies to help create a more dynamic restaurant and hospitality industry in our province. He was awarded the honour of Restaurateur of the Year in 1993, by the BCRFA. Geoffrey has also served on the board of Coalition of BC Business, United We Can, The Labour Relations Board of B.C., Vice Chairman of the BC Hospitality Foundation, Interim Chairman of the BC Culinary Tourism Society, and is currently Chair of Tourism Vancouver. Geoffrey is also the devoted father of two daughters, Caroline and Katie, and lives in Vancouver with his wife Donna. Click on the image below to start video
Introduction movie shown during the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame Gala, March 2009. |