NEIL OSBORNE AND COLIN JAMES AND VANCOUVER’S ALL-STAR CHEFS TO IGNITE CANADA’S GREAT KITCHEN PARTY
Canada’s Great Kitchen Party is proud to unveil Neil Osborne (54-40) and Colin James and their friends Craig Northey (Odds), Geoffrey Kelley (Spirit of the West), and Dave Osborne (54-40) as the musical headliners for the Vancouver regional qualifier of the Canadian Culinary Championship All-Star Invitational. The event will also feature Al Murdoch, the voice of the Vancouver Canucks, as emcee, along with the chefs selected to compete in this prestigious culinary competition. The Vancouver regional qualifier will take place on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at The Pipe Shop.
For twenty years, Canada’s Great Kitchen Party, which began as Gold Medal Plates, has celebrated the very best of Canadian culture through food, music, and community impact. Now, in its landmark anniversary season, the organization is introducing its most ambitious culinary competition ever.
10 Cities • 20 All-Star chefs • East vs West •
One city to be crowned the Canadian Culinary Champions
From St. John’s to Victoria, Canada’s most accomplished chefs will gather in ten cities across the country before advancing to the Canadian Culinary Championship in Ottawa in January 2027.
For the first time in championship history, two executive chefs will represent each city, and each city team will be members of Team East & Team West in a coast-to-coast battle for culinary supremacy.
Alex Chen, the 2018 Canadian Culinary Champion, has been named the city’s 2026 Chef of Distinction. He will be one of the two chefs representing Vancouver at the national finale.
Six other chefs, whose creativity, craftsmanship, and leadership continue to shape one of Canada’s most dynamic food destinations, will vie for the coveted second position on the Vancouver team.
THE ALL-STAR COMPETITORS IN VANCOUVER
Jasper Cruickshank – L’Abattoir
Bal Ajagaonkar – Desi Indian Lounge
Robert Lee – Five Sails
Bo Li – The Fish Man
Felix Zhou – ATLAS steak + fish
Clement Chan – The Apron
These chefs represent the extraordinary depth of talent that has helped establish Vancouver as one of Canada’s premier culinary destinations.
THE ENTERTAINMENT – Guests will enjoy signature dishes from each competing chef, premium Canadian wines and a special live performance by Canadian music icons Neil Osborne and Colin James, along with Craig Northey, Geoffrey Kelley and Dave Osborne. They will also witness the high-stakes culinary battle that will determine which chef joins Chef Chen in representing Vancouver at the national championship.
“This is such a fantastic lineup of chefs alongside an incredible roster of Canadian entertainers!” says Stephen Leckie, CEO. “We are thrilled to be back in Vancouver at The Pipe Shop to celebrate our 20th anniversary in grand style.”
THE MISSION – Canada’s Great Kitchen Party elevates and celebrates Canadian excellence while continuing its mission to support Canadian youth. Since its inception, the organization has helped generate nearly $20 million to support charitable causes in Canada.
Tickets for this extraordinary evening of fine food, premium wines, and world-class entertainment are now available by emailing vancouver@nullgreatkitchenparty.com, calling 403-808-9346, or by visiting greatkitchenparty.com.
ABOUT CANADA’S GREAT KITCHEN PARTY and the CANADIAN CULINARY CHAMPIONSHIP
Canada’s Great Kitchen Party is dedicated to elevating and celebrating excellence in Canadian culture. Staged in ten cities across the country, each event is a regional culinary competition that qualifies winning chefs to compete at the Canadian Culinary Championship. Chefs, musicians, and business leaders all come together for a spectacular experience with a mission: to ensure Canadian youth have equitable access to music education – supporting MusiCounts., sport opportunities – supporting SpiritNorth and a local food charity in every city. Money raised stays in the communities staging the event. KP is also the largest exposition of Canadian wines, featuring over 200 wineries, local breweries, and spirit companies showcased at the event. Info: greatkitchenparty.com.
