Melanie Banas

Board Member and former Microloan Administrator

Melanie has been a member of the ICC since 2010.  Having grown up with parents who raised and grew their own food, the importance of local food became ingrained at an early age.  Many years at Sooke Harbour House in the kitchen, the dining room and sometimes the beach and garden gave an even further appreciation of regional cooking.  Feast of Fields was on her roster for 15 years as well as continued work for the Island Chefs Collaborative as an event coordinator and Microloan Administrator.   Through this work Melanie is helping others to share their passion for producing, growing and raising high quality food for us all!

Paul Stewart

President

Paul Stewart is the Head Chef of the Victoria Cool Aid Society whose culinary career was inspired by his late Mother Anita, who was a cookbook author, culinary activist, and recipient of the Order of Canada. A graduate of the Stratford Chefs School and armed with over twenty years of culinary experience and his Red Seal certification, Paul and his team prepare, deliver and serve nearly 1000 meals a day to members of Victoria’s most vulnerable populations. His career has taken him to remote gulf islands in BC, a fly-in fishing lodge in Northern Ontario, a boutique hotel near Parliament hill in Ottawa and now into Social Services and Healthcare on Vancouver Island. Paul’s food philosophy has always been “fresh, local and seasonal” with an emphasis on working with local farms and producers. Paul is also an advocate for food rescue, reducing food waste and the long term sustainability of our food supply chain. He is grateful to live on Vancouver Island with his three sons and to be part of the diverse and bountiful food, beverage, and farming community that this area has to offer, along with its growth and preservation.

Bio’s coming soon

• Rowan Bezeau
• Tara Black
• Chris Hammer
• Alison Ryan
• Mark Wachtin
• Michael Warnhoff

Ryan Malcolm

Ryan has been a member of the Islands Chefs Collaborative since 2014. A respected veteran of the craft beverage industry, Ryan has worked with countless bars, restaurants, cafes, breweries, distilleries, and soda manufacturers to develop their beverage programs and make high quality drinks available to everyone. Ryan has a vigorous passion for community and understands the power of collaboration. As co-founder of The Victoria Beer Society and long time member of the ICC, Ryan strives to connect producers with their local communities and to celebrate the island’s bounty in all its forms. Ryan was awarded 2nd Best in the Pacific Northwest at the Art of The Cocktail, and has created beverage programs for notable Island businesses including: Sheringham Distillery, The Oak Bay Beach Hotel, Stage Wine Bar, The Churchill, Glo Restaurant, The Sooke Harbour House and many others. He now primarily works in project management and tourism marketing promoting destinations across the province for various sectors including craft beer and wine, farmers’ markets, and Gardens.

Director of Social Media, Marketing & Communications

Carmen Parry

Secretary

For many years, Carmen has contributed her knowledge and experience as a visible presence in the Vancouver Island wine scene. She completed her Sommelier Diploma through the International Sommelier Guild in 2009 and the French Wine Scholar in 2014. In 2014, Carmen was one of the few elite BC Sommeliers to take part in the Best Sommelier of BC competition and was awarded a scholarship for her dedication to BC’s Wine Industry.  She spent several years managing the wine program at the Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort & Spa and hosting a casual tasting series. Carmen has recently returned to food and beverage and is thrilled to be putting her wine education to work.