It’s that time of year again – get ready for the CAPS Ontario Annual General Meeting to be held at SIPS Toronto’s office at 20 Maud Street and on Zoom. Link to follow.

If you are interested in becoming a Board Member or would like to nominate someone for consideration, please complete the form on the following page and submit via email by 6:00pm EST, February 6^th, 2022 to Gary Killops, Chair, Nominations Committee (vp@on.sommelierscanada.ca) using subject line: CAPS 2022-23 Nomination Form

Call-for-Nominations-and-Nomination-Form-2022-23

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Thank you to everyone who joined CAPS Ontario for the Skills to Pay the Bills Webinars on May 3 – 6, 2021. We had a great turnout and of course are grateful to our guests.

On May 3rd – we hosted Resume Writing and Interview Skills

Hosted by Paige McIntyre with special guests Michelle Ratzlaff of Nicolas Pearce Wines, James Peden of the Liberty Entertainment Group and Lorie O’Sullivan from Two Sister Winery and formerly from the Ritz Carleton this was a lively discussion of a professional job search.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rEb4JwilUfHbydzmGi56GK0w5sOa7tlT/view?usp=sharing

On May 4th we hosted Mental Health and You -

Hosted by Lynn Abernethy with special guests Dr. Paula Ravitz, Hassel Aviles from Not 9 to 5, and Arianne Persaud from the Toronto Restaurant Workers Relief Fund this was a sensitive dive into current mental health.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1k7XJixksSZLTUzshx2Zucdb3979bY4nn/view?usp=sharing

We also included a handout for this session with important links and tips.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d0_Tgcjm6nkOPB7y47O4gIe6p0JYeJzn/view?usp=sharing

On May 5th we hosted Optimizing Your Social Media

Hosted by Renee Sferrazza with special guests Angela Aiello aka SuperWineGirl, Mackenzie Putici from New World Tours, and Miroki Tong activist and recovering performer on how to get your name and brand into the world.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yxu95ELiIQyvfRjC4V6t0HgYcu_9m3Ul/view?usp=sharing

On May 6th we hosted Mentoring and Networking

Hosted by mentor extraordinaries Krystina Roman with special guests Charlotte Big Canoe from the Full Plate, Debbie Shing from VinEquity and Quvé, and Bernard Joseph Lemoyne from Ottawa’s Atelier Restaurant on the role of mentoring in their careers. How to be the best mentor and mentee you can be.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/16d7vfD2RbrgV09jKcHLhOyZBmVCMonlT/view?usp=sharing

Thanks again for joining!

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On Monday, April 26th, CAPS Ontario was delighted to welcome Ana Fabiano and participants from across Canada  to initiate the Rioja Wine Academy in Canada.

To revisit the wonderful learning experience – check out the webinar.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Cgwm6qD0H-bTuSbWB_hHYJeKr0J7gsME/view?usp=sharing

CAPS Canada members can use the passcode: CAN-CAP-003-21-5-M2 to become Rioja Ambassadors.

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Nominations are now open to join the CAPS Ontario Board – We want YOU! And we need your opinion.

CAPS Ontario is currently looking for two (2) members to join the Board. Here’s the nomination package.

Call for Nominations and Nomination Form 2021 -

If you or someone you know might be interested in joining our group – we’d be happy to hear from you. Download the form, fill it out and submit to Gary Killops at vp@on.sommelierscanada.ca before February 7th, 2021. We need at least ONE accredited sommelier. We are allowed to have three non-sommelier board members and we have one position open here as well. You must be an accredited sommelier or an associate member in good standing with CAPS to be considered.

CAPS – in progress v6

We also have taken some time to rework some of our bylaws. If you are an accredited sommelier and member  you are being asked to approve the revised bylaws. Please review the attached document. The items in red ink are the changes we need your approval to enact. As a board, we approved the items in green ink in December 2020.

The short version of the red changes is that our three, incredibly hard-working and talented non-sommelier board members can vote during our regular board meetings but can not vote at the AGM. We don’t think that this is fair and would like you to assist us in approving this change.

We’ll be running the AGM on a virtual platform this year. If you are already a CAPS Ontario Accredited Sommelier Member – please await further instructions. If you need to renew – you can do that under the Membership tab.

See you on March 23rd. And as always – if you have questions – please email Lynn at president.on@sommelierscanada.ca

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An Important Call to Action To Support Hospitality 

From Grapes for Humanity

The Hospitality Industry Needs Your Support

For Immediate Release: December 15^th 2020

From now until Jan 1st, 2021, Grapes for Humanity Canada @grapes_for_humanity_canada will match every donation received – including yours – dollar for dollar. (Up to $40,000)

We need your help so that we can continue to provide support those in need Please donate now if you’re able – your generosity will have double the impact.

Please help spread the word – As our hospitality workers need your support.

Donations should be made directly to the organizations below:

Toroto Restaurant Workers Relief Fund https://trwrf.org

The Full Plate https://thefullplate.ca/donations

Bartenders Benevolent Fund https://bartendersbenevolentfund.ca/donate

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For Immediate Release

November 13, 2020

CAPS announces new national president Lesley Brown

– Hospitality industry veteran replaces outgoing president Mark DeWolf

for three-year term –

Vancouver, BC. The Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS, http://sommelierscanada.com) – Canada’s only national sommelier association — is delighted to announce that Lesley Brown will assume the role of incoming national president, for a three-year term. 

Ms. Brown follows past president Mark DeWolf and most recently served as CAPS Canada vice president and was president of CAPS’ British Columbia chapter. A 20-year veteran of the wine and hospitality industry, she is currently the vice president of sales and marketing at Vancouver-based agency, HQ Wine + Spirits.

“We are thrilled that Lesley is assuming the reigns as CAPS’ leader,” said Mr. DeWolf. “Her unique ability to spearhead a long-term vision while managing the day to day challenges of our culturally diverse sommunity will continue CAPS’ growth for years to come.” He added, “ I can think of no one better suited to guide the organization in its mission to build a national community of sommeliers in Canada.”

“Thanks to the work done under the past leadership, we have a great opportunity now to raise the bar of sommellerie even higher in Canada,” commented Ms. Brown. “My mandate is to continue to expand on our pillars of education, communication, professional development, events, competitions, inclusion and diversity in a continued effort to unify our sommeliers from coast to coast and position CAPS Canada as leader in our industry.”

She continued, “On behalf of CAPS, we’d like to thank Mark for his dedication, achievements and strong leadership over the past term and wish him the best in his bid for role of vice president, Americas, Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI).”

Throughout the past several years, CAPS has solidified its identity as a bicoastal operation, and enjoyed international renown with both its national and regional events and competitions. The not-for-profit association places equal emphasis on education, mentorship, and communication and is committed to a long-term vision, while managing and embracing the day to day challenges of a culturally diverse, national constituency.

About CAPS

CAPS is a pan-Canadian association that brings together the sommelier profession, restaurant services and key stakeholders of the hospitality industry. CAPS is comprised of provincial chapters based in Halifax (CAPS Atlantic), Montreal (ACSP Quebec), Toronto (CAPS Ontario), Winnipeg (CAPS Manitoba) and Vancouver (CAPS BC). Passionately dedicated to service, CAPS is committed to building a strong community of sommeliers and fostering the growth of the culture of hospitality in Canada. Visit www.sommelierscanada.com, follow @caps_bc, @ACSP-Quebec @caps_ac  and @caps.ontario #CAPS #sommunity.

-30-

For more information, visuals or to arrange an interview or broadcast segment with a CAPS spokesperson, contact Susan Willemsen at The Siren Group Inc. Tel.: 416-461-1567. Email: susan@thesirengroup.com, www.thesirengroup.com or @thesirengroup.

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Skills to Pay the Bills is an initiative from your friends at CAPS Ontario to help broaden the collective skillset of the #sommunity. We’re proud to continue the series with an important course designed and hosted by Jefferson Darrell, of Breakfast Culture. The course, called ‘We All Benefit from Privilege’ is open to everyone and is taking place Monday, July 13, from 11AM-130PM ET. Sign up at https://weallbenefitfromprivilege.eventbrite.ca

We are accepting donations as well, both to offset the fee paid to present this course and to augment the CAPS Scholarship Fund.

About the course:

Making the business case for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs can be challenging. Part of this process involves understanding that we all benefit from some form of privilege; this BREAKFAST CULTURE course helps all team members regardless of their identities, backgrounds or work functions realize this fact in a relevant, engaging and approachable fashion. Jefferson uses popular culture to discuss representation and why it is important. We share our own stories and journeys of understanding our own levels of privilege. The purpose of these two steps helps to provide definitions and context of how privilege works and to demonstrate how “We ALL Benefit from Privilege.” Finally, we facilitate a group exercise around different forms of privilege and what happens in every training session are the resulting lessons actually come from team members themselves as they work through the exercise and put the previous discussions into practice.

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About Jefferson (@breakfastculture):

Jefferson Darrell is an accomplished marketing communications and change management professional with more than 15 years of brand strategy expertise, generating earned and owned media using both traditional and digital channels. In the DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) space, Jefferson was instrumental in the creation of the Diversity Inclusion Anti-Racism Action Team at the Ontario Science Centre and he represented the Centre on the DEI Committee with the Canadian Association of Science Centres (CASC). He was also instrumental in organizing the Science Centre’s involvement in the world’s first Pride in STEM Day on July 5, 2018. Jefferson’s change management project with the Black Coalition of AIDS Prevention (Black CAP) resulted in increased revenue opportunities for the non-profit by diversifying the organization’s development committee.

Jefferson has delivered numerous presentations and keynote addresses about the importance of DEI including: presenting at the inaugural IDEA (Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity in Advertising) Summit for the Institute of Communications Agencies (ICA); national webinars for CASC, Pride at Work Canada, and IABC (International Association of Business Communicators) Toronto; and delivering the keynote address about Diversity in Public Relations for Humber College in 2018. He has participated in myriad panel discussions about diversity and inclusion at the IDEA Summit, the 2018 Global PR Summit, and AdClub Toronto. He has also been a guest lecturer at Ryerson University.

Jefferson earned a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo, a Public Relations Honours Certificate from Humber College, and is a change management, leadership and inclusion graduate from Centennial College and the Canadian Centre for Diversity & Inclusion (CCDI) and is working towards the Canadian Certified Inclusion Professional (CCIPTM) designation.

#skillstopaythebills #capsontario #jeffersondarrell #breakfastculture #letsbreaksomeeggs #privilege #diversityequityinclusion #training

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Welcome everyone – below are the links to the Skills to Pay the Bills Webinars offered by CAPS in May. In some instances there is supplemental information. As it comes in it’ll be added. If the link doesn’t work for you – please just copy and paste it and it will work. Thank you all again -

May 25, 2020 – 11:00AM Restaurants by the Numbers with Heather McDougall

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gbDHmXH-oeOIClVianLPj204aRDeOmjq/view?usp=sharing

https://youtu.be/DfKkbmp0_8g

May 25, 2020 – 4:00PM Excel @ Excel with Heather McDougall and Krystina Roman

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mGBBs3FdhBuaJzg5aFh5twLtQ2QRwxDE/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ms8rejezj_QFRR_BeHPtlrvJaWvhZSOB/view?usp=sharing

May 26, 2020 – 11:00AM Future Proof Your Wine List with Brie Dema, Julie Garton and Lorie O’Sullivan

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14qOy9L2szlay8LI5jW7MJ-HQKRIVBawh/view?usp=sharing

May 26, 2020 – 4:00PM Boost Your Brand with Susan Willemsen and Kim Gertler

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aJtO21cFA0HR3SzHfw28z82pwtKgJsz4/view?usp=sharing

May 27, 2020 – 11:00AM Online Presence 101 with Renee Sferrazza

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zCJbvuFoe7MdyRQtDII4VA1c5y6YXexB/view?usp=sharing

May 27, 2020 – 4:00PM Demystifying Digital with Krystina Roman and Lorie O’Sullivan

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1389idHZCQ5dxqlnd-JfbYU-pO0NkcgpZ/view?usp=sharing

May 28, 2020 – 11:00AM Wine Studying Like a Pro with Bill Mochoruk and James Peden

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SQrPbhbfUXbUP9SavMzgBqxzwXLR4BQC/view?usp=sharing

https://youtu.be/T9yb3BToIds

May 28, 2020 – 4:00PM Boss Yourself Around with Kari Macknight Dearborn

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NBDVf1Q4qHg1gTqAMQS_MlH56lkShWTn/view?usp=sharing

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