TORONTO — CAPS Ontario recently held its 2024 Annual General Meeting at the Vintage Conservatory in Toronto to review 2023 and plan for 2024 and beyond.
CAPS Ontario voted in three new board members, representing diverse sectors of the hospitality industry, including Antoinette (Toni) Williamson, Srinivasa (Sri) Velagala and Stephen Hart.
Departing members of the board include Stephanie Guth, who will continue to advise, Shagun Dabral and Cokie Ponikvar.
The returning 2024 board consists of James Peden (president), Heather McDougall, Bruce Wallner, Divya Steinwall, Susan Willemsen, Connor Gallagher, BeiBei Hou and Jen Wood (vice-president).
Highlights of 2023 included increased CAPS membership and a budget surplus in coffers to use towards activities planned for 2024.
Additionally, the CAPS education program held a 2024 Pin Ceremony at George Brown College for the program’s most recent graduating cohort. The champagne reception, sponsored by Breakthru Beverages, celebrated the following graduates: Penelope Carter, Francesco Curciarello, Stephanie Di Nardo, John Fung, Jillian Hearn, Philip Stefanow, Leo Timmins and Julienne Uychocde.
Looking ahead, the 2024 Best Ontario Sommelier Competition (BOSC) gala event will be held this fall at Toronto’s Liberty Grand event complex. CAPS Ontario hopes to attract a diverse group of sommeliers to attend three preliminary preparatory and competition events in Ottawa, Toronto and Niagara, Ont.
Later this year, the third-annual CAPS CUP 2024 blind-tasting will take place in Ottawa, Toronto and Niagara, Ont.
