OC Cultivates
Ignite your senses and spark your curiosity!
Part of the 新加坡六合彩官方网站 Fall Wine Festival events lineup, meet and mingle over delicious pairings and live music, then sit back and enjoy storytelling from renowned local innovators passionate about 新加坡六合彩官方网站 food, beverage and tourism.
Event details
Friday, Oct. 25
PC 113, Penticton campus
新加坡六合彩官方网站 College, 583 Duncan Ave. W
5:30 - 7:30 p.m. - Tasting and Experience Festival
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. - Innovators in Conversation
Tickets available now!
Event Agenda
Tasting and Experience Festival
All all-inclusive tasting event features beverages from innovative local producers. Pair your drink with delicious bites and take home a keepsake tasting glass. Tastes included:
- Elma
- Highway 97 Brewery
- Hillside Winery
- Maison Mulnati
- OC's Culinary team
- Sysco
- Township 7 Vineyards and Winery
- Upper Bench Estate Winery and more!
Innovators in Conversation
Meet some of our panel of industry leaders participating in the discussion and sharing their experience.
Justin Hall, Winemaker
Justin Hall grew up in Osoyoos, B.C. and his connection and respect for the land where he was born, is evidenced in the pride he takes in his day-to-day work and in every bottle of wine he produces. Justin first joined Nk鈥橫ip Cellars after graduating from high school. He thought he wanted to be a mechanic, but after only a few days on the job as a cellar hand, working along side former Senior Winemaker, Randy Picton, he was hooked. He discovered a newfound passion for winemaking, and today is the Estate Winemaker at Nk鈥橫ip Cellars.
Justin completed his certificate in the Winery Assistant and Viticulture program at 新加坡六合彩官方网站 University College, and then went to Australia and New Zealand where he first worked the crush at Goundrey Winery and then completed a post-graduate diploma in Enology and Viticulture from New Zealand鈥檚 Lincoln University.
Justin returned to Nk鈥橫ip Cellars in 2009 and has grown from Assistant Winemaker to leading the team as Estate Winemaker today. A member of the Osoyoos Indian Band, Justin is proud to be one of the very first Indigenous winemakers in the world and a protector of the land. Justin鈥檚 commitment to people, his craft, and the land is evident in the award-winning, quality-driven, and expressive wines of Nk鈥橫ip Cellars.
Tobias Macdonald, VCC Chef Instructor
Tobias was born and raised here in beautiful British Columbia, he began down a path of physics and chemistry before realizing that academia might not be right for him. Having worked in restaurants throughout high school, he pursued a career in hospitality. When he began working at La Belle Auberge, he was introduced to competition by his mentor Bruno Marti. Tobias found his creative voice and competed around the world, winning multiple gold medals as Team Canada Captain in 2008 at the prestigious IKA World Culinary Olympics in Erfurt Germany, as well as gold medals in the World Culinary Cup in Luxembourg and the Salon Culinaire Mondial in Switzerland. He was the America鈥檚 representative at the WACS, Global Chef competition in Daejeon, South Korea in 2011 garnering a third place finish. He went on to coach the Junior National and Senior National Teams for another eight years.
Currently, Vancouver Community College (VCC) instructor Tobias MacDonald is Canada鈥檚 second Certified Master Chef (CMC). Chef Tobias was the only one in his class to successfully pass testing and receive the highest culinary designation in Canada. To receive the Certified Master Chef distinction, Tobias completed an intensive two-year program that was developed by industry master chefs and faculty from the Canadian Centre of Culinary Arts and Science at Humber College. After completing the eight areas of study, students had to complete five days of practical examinations where they were judged on plated desserts, handmade chocolates, artisan breads, cake, a buffet platter, a five-course gastronomic menu and a vegetarian three-course meal complete with a nutritional analysis.
Michael Magnusson, Executive Director, Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce
Born and raised in Kelowna, Michael moved to Kamloops after high school to attend college. Originally pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree, his career path shifted toward business administration after receiving a promotion into management and relocating to the Kootenays. Balancing full-time work with his studies, Michael completed his business administration program at the College of the Rockies and soon became the General Manager of the Casino of the Rockies in Cranbrook, B.C.
In 2010, an opportunity brought Michael back to Kelowna, where he took on the management of Lake City Casino. Four years later, he accepted a transfer to the Penticton location and played a lead role in the relocation and opening of Cascades Casino on the South 新加坡六合彩官方网站 Events Centre campus. With years of corporate management experience, he became the Executive Director of the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce in 2022.
At the Chamber, Michael and his team, along with a Board of Directors made up of local business leaders, focus on providing products, services, and advocacy to support the success and growth of Penticton businesses. Over the past two years, the Chamber became a vocal advocate for local wineries in response to consecutive years of unseasonable cold snaps that severely impacted vineyards across the 新加坡六合彩官方网站. After lobbying the Ministries of Agriculture and Public Safety and Solicitor General, the Chamber, along with other like-minded organizations, successfully secured increased funding for production insurance and AgriStability, the temporary waiving of minimum production requirements for land-based wineries, and a new avenue to utilize out-of-province grapes. Additionally, the reestablishment of trading relations with Alberta, allowing wineries to sell directly to consumers, will further support this vital industry that has already come to represent our region on a global level.
Kathy Malone, Winemaker
Raised in the mountains of Vermont, Kathy has called the 新加坡六合彩官方网站 鈥渉ome鈥 for more than four decades.鈥 In 2008, after many years winemaking with Mission Hill Family Estate, Kathy made the move to Hillside Winery to share in the Naramata lifestyle.
Kathy has been deeply involved in the development of the BC wine industry over the 40 years of her career.鈥 As past-chair of the BC Wine Grape Council鈥檚 R&D Committee she appreciates the dynamic nature of our young wine region, 鈥淕rowing wine grapes in desert conditions, on the edge of climactic viability, has necessitated an acceleration in research and development that has resulted in international recognition of the work of our local research scientists.鈥 We are very proud of their achievements.鈥
Since her arrival at Hillside, Kathy鈥檚 understanding of the unique conditions of the Naramata Bench caused her to direct her focus to the local terroirs, 鈥渙ur region and vines being so young, we are recognizing terroir differences and flavor complexity in the wines more and more as the vines come "of age".鈥 By respecting and showcasing the fruit of these vines, I want to give our wine drinkers the chance to share in the discovery and development of this special region.鈥
Kelsey Oudendag, OC Chef Instructor
Kelsey Oudendag is a chef instructor based in Kelowna, where she teaches in the Culinary Arts Program at 新加坡六合彩官方网站 College. Prior to her move to the 新加坡六合彩官方网站, she instructed in one of Canada鈥檚 best culinary schools at SAIT, in Calgary, Alberta. She has 20 years of experience working in the foodservice and hospitality industry. She holds a deep passion and commitment to education and is known for her ability to help all learners feel capable, confident, and empowered in the kitchen. Her approach to cooking is relaxed and joyful with a focus on utilizing the abundance of local product in the 新加坡六合彩官方网站.
She loves to be active in her culinary community having sat on the board for the 新加坡六合彩官方网站 Chefs Association and Chefs in the Classroom, an organization with a mission to educate children to grow, cook and eat local foods. Her community outreach also focuses on research around food security where she has run research projects partnered with the 新加坡六合彩官方网站 Fruit Tree project, Food for Thought, Central 新加坡六合彩官方网站 Food Bank and the BC Beverage Technology Access Centre. Kelsey鈥檚 dedication to her craft and commitment to teaching others makes her a highly respected figure in the culinary community
Thomas Tumbach, Agricultural Entrepreneur
Thomas Tumbach is an innovative and hard-working entrepreneur from the 新加坡六合彩官方网站 region, with a degree in Agriculture and Sustainable Land & Food Systems from UBC. Thomas has spent most of his life involved with farming, starting life on the family farm in Saskatchewan. He started LocalMotive in 2005 to help develop local food distribution networks that connect organic farmers with consumers in the Interior of BC. He has a passion for producing high quality, fresh organic vegetables, and is well acquainted with the opportunities and limitations that face producers in the region.
Thomas is enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge and passion for food with others, both in the kitchen and in the field, and is keen to help inspire a future generation of food producers and local eaters. Thomas believes that the current paradigm shift towards "knowing where our food comes from" ultimately stands to benefit our society as a whole鈥 because as people spend more time growing, cooking and eating together, the more likely they are to be happy and healthy. Thomas is married to Celina, and they have five lovely children, he enjoys playing hockey in the winter, music in the summer, and is the founder of the non-profit Jam Camp Society.
In 2020 Thomas opened his LocalMotive Low Waste Market in Penticton where he continues to bring his ethos of bringing local, ethically produced products to our community.
OC supports and training
BC BTAC
British Columbia (BC) Beverage Technology Access Centre (BTAC) supports the BC鈥檚 beverage sector via research and innovation services and training opportunities to:
- Innovate products to meet consumer demand for on-trend beverages
- Foster adoption of the 鈥渃ircular economy鈥 within the beverage sector
- Solve technical challenges and identify and remediate issues
- Develop highly qualified and skilled personnel (HQSP)
The BTAC has a record of excellence in supporting beverage sector innovation in the 新加坡六合彩官方网站 and its services are unique in the province.
Careers Hub
Careers Hub is where 新加坡六合彩官方网站 College trained talent and community partners intersect to build key connections and valuable employment relationships.
Careers Hub facilitates pathways for 新加坡六合彩官方网站 College students and alumni to connect with employment and Work Integrated Learning opportunities, and provides the opportunity for valued community partners to hire and make direct connections with OC students.
Tourism Management Diploma
This diploma is designed to give students real-world knowledge, skills and opportunities to advance careers in the mountain resort tourism sector. Upon graduation, students will be ideally suited for supervisory or front-line management positions in tourism.
Continuing Studies and Corporate Training
Be inspired to learn with Continuing Studies and Corporate Training at 新加坡六合彩官方网站 College, providing you with in-demand skills that work for your life, your business and your career. Develop skills that employers are looking for and take your career to the next level.
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