Photo of Rosanna Caira
Photo by Nick Wong

It’s time to turn the page on a new year. Amidst the hurly burly world we live in, with increasing political strife (especially with the results of the recent American election), anxiety about the economy and technology forcing change at breakneck speed, it’s clear we live in precarious times.

Still, despite the craziness, there’s much to be thankful for, especially the fact that we live in Canada — a kinder and gentler place. This year, with Canada’s 150th birthday serving as a backdrop, the focus on Canada will be extensive. And, it’s about time. For 150 years, this vast country has existed in the shadow of our American neighbours. But as the world has become more complex, we’ve grown and evolved to be many things to many people — a welcoming haven for immigrants from the world over, a land of beauty and majesty and, most importantly, a great place to call home. It’s our time to shine, because in this increasingly maddening world of ours, the world needs more Canada. This year, we are giving you just that — more Canada. Starting with this issue, we launch a new signature series called Oh Canada! — a six-part series featuring the cuisine of the country’s geographical regions, starting this month with First Nations’ cuisine (see story on p.24) and culminating in July with a special Made-in-Canada Food Issue spotlighting Canadian food influencers — chefs, operators, producers, winemakers, brewers and more. Not to be ignored, we will also feature top Canadian educational institutions — the harbinger of tomorrow’s success.

For those who may not think we have Canadian cuisine per se, think again. While our cuisine may not have the deep roots of nations such as France and Italy, with storied pasts and traditions, we do produce a vast array of dishes that are uniquely Canadian in their history, scope and traditions, fused with ethnic influences to create a unique representation of Canadian food. As today’s consumer becomes more interested in local ingredients and we gain more confidence in who we are, Canadian cuisine will continue to assume greater importance and appreciation.

To help us better understand who and what we are, we’re also proud to debut our Made-in-Canada photo contest. Whether you’re travelling on business and indulging in a great Canadian dish or are intrigued by a certain product while dining out, we urge you to do what we all do best these days — snap a picture. Then submit it to Kostuch Media via Instagram and be part of the country’s biggest and boldest photo contest for a chance to win a slew of great prizes, which will allow you to explore and experience Canada (see pg. 12 for more details). Welcome to a year of all things Canadian.

In the spirit of a new year, we’ve updated the graphic design of the magazine, giving it a fresher, more modern feel.

We hope you like it. Happy New Year.

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Rosanna Caira is the editor and publisher of Kostuch Media’s Foodservice and Hospitality, and Hotelier magazines. In her capacity as editor of Canada’s two leading hospitality publications, Rosanna directs the editorial and graphic content of both publications, and is responsible for the editorial vision of the magazines, its five websites as well as the varied tertiary products including e-newsletters, supplements and special projects. In addition to her editorial duties, Rosanna also serves as publisher of the company, directing the strategic development of the Sales and Marketing, Production and Circulation departments. Rosanna is the face of the magazines, representing the publications at industry functions and speaking engagements. She serves on various committees and Boards, including the Board of Directors of the Canadian Hospitality Foundation. She is a recipient of the Ontario Hostelry’s Gold Award in the media category. In 2006, Rosanna was voted one of the 32 most successful women of Italian heritage in Canada. Rosanna is a graduate of Toronto’s York University, where she obtained a BA degree in English literature.

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