Celebrating Our Culinary and EVS Excellence at Compass Group Canada

What a week it’s been at Compass Group Canada! We’ve just wrapped up Chef Appreciation Week (CAW) and International Housekeepers Environmental Services Week (EVS), and it’s been a whirlwind of excitement!

Let’s dish out the details, shall we?

This year’s theme for Chef Appreciation Week “Food First, Passion Always,” truly captured the essence of what it means to be a Chef at Compass Group Canada. Our chefs are not just masters of their culinary craft – they’re also passionate advocates for reducing food waste, combating climate change, and supporting local communities. Talk about wearing many hats (or should we say, toques?)! Their dedication goes far beyond the kitchen, and this week, we celebrated every aspect of their incredible contributions.

And now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for – drum roll, please… Our Top 3 Chefs:

• Education Chef of the Year – Chef Keegan Gilchrist from Chartwells
• Retail Chef of the Year – Chef Fabian Ffrench from Levy
• Remote & Healthcare Chef of the Year – Chef Ziad el Rhzali from ESS Canada

These chefs have wowed us with their creativity, leadership, and dedication! And guess what? Our Top 3 Chefs, along with other chefs, are in for a real treat. They’ll soon be heading off to regional retreats, where they’ll have the chance to showcase their culinary creativity, exchange ideas, and share their passion for all things food.

As we approach the final moment, it’s clear that each chef has made a lasting impression. However, there can be only one winner who stands out among the rest.

And with great excitement, we announce – Chef Keegan Gilchrist as our 2024 Chef of the Year!

Spotlight on Our Winner:

Keegan has really raised the bar. Over the past year, he has transformed his location into a model of excellence! And his events? Out of this world! We’re talking stunning pastry displays, impressive ice sculptures, and even circus-style performances. Now that’s a show-stopping experience!

Our CAW celebration is an annual tradition across Compass, globally – an opportunity to really recognize those behind the food – and one Compass Group Canada is thrilled to participate in each year! Who could forget the amazing Chef Katie Goff – our 2023 Chef of the Year! Katie continues to inspire us all with her innovative approach to cooking and her commitment to excellence. Did you know she’s been cooking up storms (literally!) on one of the world’s biggest oil platforms in St. John’s, Newfoundland? Talk about extreme cooking!

This year, we had 31 remarkable Chefs nominated! Curious to learn more about these culinary stars? Visit our webpage here.

But the celebrations don’t stop in the kitchen!

Celebrating Our EVS Heroes

Our EVS teams have also been in the spotlight this week, and rightly so! Their hard work and dedication keep our spaces clean, safe, and welcoming – something we all appreciate every single day. This year, we’ve recognized several outstanding nominees, 106 for the International Housekeeping and EVS Week Hero Award. Each nominee has demonstrated exceptional commitment and excellence, enhancing our spaces and making them more enjoyable for everyone who experiences them. We’re on the edge of our seats waiting to announce the winners at the end of the month. We’ll be sure to share the details of the winners once they’re announced.

As we close this chapter and look forward to another year of culinary adventures and sparkling clean spaces, we can’t help but smile. Because with a team like this, who knows what incredible things we’ll achieve next?

Here’s to our fantastic culinary and EVS teams – thank you for all that you do!