VANCOUVER’S ALL-STAR CHEFS TO IGNITE
CANADA’S GREAT
The Vancouver regional qualifier will take place on
Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at The Pipe Shop.
The journey to Canada’s most celebrated culinary stage begins with an evening of elegance, artistry and exceptional taste as Vancouver hosts an immersive showcase of the country’s finest flavours.
For twenty years, Canada’s Great Kitchen Party has celebrated the best of Canadian culture through food, music and community impact. Now, as it marks its landmark anniversary season, the organization is launching its most ambitious culinary competition yet.
The Vancouver event will determine two chefs who will advance to the national finals in Ottawa:
- Chef of Distinction: selected by a panel of national judges.
- All-Star Winner: selected through a live competition featuring a group of past podium finishers.
Guests will experience signature dishes prepared by some of Vancouver’s top chefs, paired with a curated selection of Canadian wines, beers and spirits. The evening offers an intimate, up-close culinary experience celebrating Canadian talent, creativity and flavour.
Join us for an evening of exceptional taste, meaningful impact, and thrilling competition.
THE MISSION – Canada’s Great Kitchen Party elevates and celebrates Canadian excellence while continuing its mission to support Canadian youth. Since its inception,
- Co-founders: Stephen Leckie, CEO and Karen Blair, COO
- Chef Alex Chen, the 2018 Canadian Culinary Champion, has been named the city’s 2026 Chef of Distinction.
A panel of distinguished judges evaluated the dishes prepared by each chef, including Chris Johns – National Culinary Advisor for Canada’s Great Kitchen Party and the Canadian Culinary Championships, and recovering restaurant critic and highly respected food and travel writer Joie Alvaro Kent, Vancouver’s head judge.
Six other chefs, whose
- 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
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.
Wednesday, October 07, 2026. 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
The Pipe Shop, 115 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver, BC V7L 0B2
- 5:00 PM VIP ACCESS TO THE COMPETITION
- 6:00 PM THE COMPETITION (Dinner: stand-up format) Savour a 7-course small-plate dinner, with each dish paired with a superb Canadian wine.
- 7:40 PM CELEBRATION (Dessert: seated format) Includes Canada’s Pinnacle Wines, dessert, and an exclusive Live and Silent auction. Guests will enjoy electrifying live music celebrating the music of The pinnacle of the evening: the podium presentation!
FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM: @GreatKitchenParty.
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.
