Premier Ghiz named “honorary chef” by restaurant association
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 29, 2009
CHARLOTTETOWN – The Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA) met with Premier Robert Ghiz today to serve up some success stories topped off with a personalized chef jacket.
In addition to naming him an honorary chef, CRFA Chairperson Brenda O’Reilly of St. John’s and Charlottetown restaurateur Liam Dolan delivered several messages to the Premier:
- The restaurant industry is one of the province’s largest employers, with nearly 5,000 direct employees;
- The restaurant industry provides nearly one in five jobs for young people under the age of 25;
- With more than 300 locations, the restaurant industry is at the heart of every community, and generates jobs and investment across the province.
The meeting also marked CRFA’s 65th anniversary and introduced CRFA’s new President and CEO, Garth Whyte, who took the helm of the 33,000-member association in mid-June.
“The restaurant industry makes a huge contribution to employment, tourism and sense of community,” says Whyte. “We’re very pleased to have the opportunity to share this message with Premier Ghiz, and to encourage him to create a stable business environment so that our members continue to expand and invest in PEI.”
CRFA has an Atlantic office headed up by Vice President Luc Erjavec, and the association owns and operates the annual Apex foodservice expo serving the Atlantic region.
The meeting with Premier Ghiz was part of a Maritime tour that includes meetings with Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter and New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham.
NOTE TO EDITORS: A high-resolution photo of today’s meeting is available at: http://www.crfa.ca/images/peipremier.jpg.
Cutline: Premier Robert Ghiz wears a personalized chef jacket presented to him by local restaurateur Liam Dolan (left) and President of the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association Garth Whyte in Charlottetown, Tuesday, September 29, 2009.
CRFA is one of Canada's largest business associations, with 33,000 members representing restaurants, bars, caterers, institutions and other foodservice providers. Canada's $60-billion foodservice industry employs more than one million people in communities across the country.
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