Meet Our Beneficiaries
The BCHF is the hospitality industry’s charity, supporting and inspiring those who serve you every day. We help those who most need it, often in their most difficult hour.
As they cope with stressful medical situations and the extraordinary costs arising from them, we come alongside to support them and their families. Their stories of struggle and triumph inspire us to work together to help our own within the hospitality community.
The BCHF provides financial support beyond conventional medical plans, EI, or other insurance or benefit plans. We are often the first glimmer of hope for these members of the hospitality community.
Read their stories HERE
Beneficiaries By Year
Benefits Awarded YTD $92,400
Kevin | Hotel, Osoyoos
Miranda | SPA, Victoria
Ugo | Pub, Vancouver
Karlan | Restaurant, Vancouver
Shawn | Restaurant, Vancouver Island
Theresa | Restaurant, Radium Hot Springs
Shalyn | Restaurant, Kelowna
Shannon | Restaurant, Lower Mainland
Heather | Restaurant, Lower Mainland
JuSang | Hotel, Vancouver Island
Dom | Bar, Lower Mainland
Ronny | Distillery, Lower Mainland
Michael | Restaurant, Lower Mainland
Rosemary | Restaurant, Lower Mainland
Mackenzie | Coffee Shop, Vancouver Island
Benefits Awarded YTD $63,700
Shalyn | Restaurant, Kelowna
Jan | Restaurant, Vancouver
Ryan | Restaurant, Vancouver
Kristine | Restaurant, Vancouver Island
Vanessa | Pub, Vancouver Island
Mo | Tourism, Vancouver Island
Sean | Bar, Lower Mainland
Jake | Restaurant, Lower Mainland
Poppy | Restaurant, Vancouver Island
Brian | Restaurant, Kelowna
Laura | Restaurant, Whistler
Kaitlyn | Winery, Okanagan Falls
Amber | Agency, Vancouver Island
Benefits Awarded $55,931
Seshagiri | Hotel, Vancouver
Norman | Restaurant, Vancouver
Donald | Restaurant, Clearwater
Dawn | Tour Operator, Vancouver
Jon | Bar, Vancouver
Dale | Restaurant, Vancouver
Connor | Brewery, Kelowna
Michelle | Media, Vancouver
Julian | Winery, Summerland
Corinna | Brewery, Langley
Kaitlyn | Winery, Okanagan Falls
Michel | Restaurant, Whistler
Benefits Awarded $45,185
Rita | Server, Vancouver
Terry | Cook, Vancouver
Caitlin | Server, Kelowna
Carolyn | Server, Vancouver
Andrea | Hotel, Richmond
James | Tourism, Parksville
Dana | Server, Qualicum Beach
Willem | Server, Victoria
Pascal | Tourism, Vancouver
Deepika | Restaurant, Kelowna
Arya | Restaurant, Kelowna
Sarah | Restaurant, Whistler
Confidential | Vancouver
Rhona | Server, Castlegar
Stephanie | Server, Osoyoos
Benefits Awarded $83,430
Diana | Server, Vancouver
Natalie | Server, Vancouver
Mitchel | Server, Vancouver
Selena | Server, Victoria
Cynthia | Server, Revelstoke
Mary Jane | Housekeeper, Vancouver
Sarah | Server, Vancouver
Bobbie | Server, Langford
Toni | Server, Chilliwack
Doug | Server, Vancouver
Megan | Server, Victoria
Michelle | Server, Vancouver
Julie | Server, Whistler
Sandra | Cook, Lilloet
Sheldon | Chef, Terrace
Jacqueline | Server, Vancouver
Renee | Server, Vancouver
Jason | Server, Victoria
Laura | Cook, Langley
Nolan | Server, Victoria
Terry | Chef, Summerland
Dawn | Tourism, Vancouver
Kaitlyn | Bar, Coquitlam
Arturo | Cook, Vancouver
Tibor | Winery, Peachland
Diane | Cook, Kelowna
David | Winery, Okanagan
Benefits Awarded $102,980
Sean | Server, Victoria
Cheryl | Owners, Kelowna
Navveer | Server, Surrey
Robert | Server, New Westminster
Karen | Server, Sun Peaks
Serena | Housekeeper, Kelowna
Twyla | Housekeeper, Prince George
Ian | Server, Vancouver
Edgar | Housekeeper, Vancouver
Robert | Server, New Westminster
Travis | Night Auditor, Tofino
Robert | Gulfstream Restaurant, Kelowna
Annie | Head Chef, Sun Peaks
Irmy | 100 Mile House
Minerva | Housekeeper, Vancouver
Axel | Bartender, Vancouver
Julie | Server, Vancouver
Justin | Brewery, Vancouver
Eileen | Hotel, Chilliwack
Leaf | Restaurant, Kelowna
Lyndon | Restaurant, Kelowna
Warren | Hotel, Osoyoos
Andrew | Pub, Coquitlam
Sean | Hotel, Courtney
Jennifer | Hotel, Vancouver
Bonnie | Restaurant, Cranbrook
Tasos | Restaurant, Port McNeill
Aaron | Restaurant, Vancouver
Tiana | Restaurant, Vancouver
Elias | Housekeeper, Vancouver
Kyle | Bartender, Vancouver
Jocelyn | Server, Vancouver
Devon | Hotel, Vancouver
Benefits Awarded $131,120
Zach | Server, Vancouver
Sherry | Server, Victoria
Tim | Bellman, Victoria
Waldemar | First Cook, Vancouver
Dominika | Server, Vancouver
Mykhailo | Bartender/Server, Vancouver
Jason |Server, Victoria
Stephane | Server, Vancouver
Ellen | Houskeeper, Victoria
Krystle | Server, Vancouver
Michael | Restaurant Manager, Vancouver
Rossana | Houskeeping Managerr, Vancouver
Manuel | Cook, Whistler
William | Janitorial Worker, Victoria
Natali | Housekeeper, Vancouver
Cindy | Food truck owner, Vancouver
Gordon | Husband of server, Cranbrook
Ventura | Housekeeper, Kamloops
Julia | Server, Victoria
Kristina | Cook, Pender Island
Blair | General Manager, Nanaimo
Jeffrey | Bartender, Vancouver
Hailey | server, Victoria
Caryn | Manager, Summerland
Dawn | Bartender, Vancouver
Shelley | Owner, Courtney
Angelo | Head housekeeper, Kelowna
Matthew | Bartender, Osoyoos
Gerry | Front Desk Agent, Victoria
Juan | Server, Vancouver
Hannah | Server, Vancouver
Alan | Server, Vancouver
Bettyanna | Server, Burnaby
Eleane | Server, Vancouver
Adam | Owner, Kelowna
Tim | Server, Yaletown
Benefits Awarded $121,935
Matthew | Restaurant Worker, Richmond
Michael | Journalist/Editor, Vancouver
Luke | Cook, Langley
Ralf | Liquor Store Worker, Vancouver
Valerie | Cook, Whistler
Chris | Bartender, Vancouver
Sarah | Restaurant Worker, Whistler
Rachel | Bartender, Vancouver
Richard | Food Service Sales-retired, Kamloops
Michael | Viticulturist, Osoyoos
Josh | Restaurant Server, Vancouver
Steven | Restaurant Worker, Vancouver
Andrew | Cook, Vancouver
Gord | Dishwaser, Victoria
Genieve | Server, Vancouver
Bonnie | Bartender, White Rock
Aja | Server, Vancouver
Rick | Meat cutter, Vancouver
Billy | Forklift Operator, Kelowna
Melissa | Sr. CSM, Kelowna
Lucy | Assistant Manager, Whistler
Ian | Chef, Vancouver
Megan | Server, White Rock
Aaron | Server, Sooke
John | Prep cook, Vancouver
Frances | Front Desk Agent, Victoria
Amy | Server, Vancouver
Tina | Cook, Coquitlam
Aja | Prep Cook, Kelowna
Serge | Banquets, Vancouver
Dustin | husband, Peachland
Benefits Awarded $114,000
Hiro | Convention Centre Worker, Vancouver
Rossana | Hotel Worker, Vancouver
Melanie | Restaurant Worker, Kelowna
Shannon | Server, Vancouver
Anna | Housekeeper, Prince George
Kyle | Bartender, Vancouver
Audrey | Educator, Kimberley
Irvin | Club Bartender, Vancouver
Lyndon | Restaurant worker, Kelowna
Bernice | Hotel Worker-retired, Vancouver
Don | Hotel Worker, Kelowna
Tim | Hotel Worker, Vancouver
Shelley | Hotel Worker, Kamloops
Marcio | Server, Vancouver
Tina | Baker, Mission
Wes | VP Sales, Cobble Hill
Angela | Dishwasher, Campbell River
Natascha | Server, Vancouver
Nouria | Server, Vancouver
Jayne | Bartender, Server, Vancouver
Benefits Awarded $85,535
Bernie | Hotel Employee, Vancouver
Paul | Winery Employee, Kelowna
Carol | Hotel Worker, Richmond
Paul | Pub Owner/ Operator, Kelowna
Tina | Chef, Vancouver
Ronald | Hotel Worker, Vancouver
Dane | Bartender, Vancouver
Melanie | Restaurant Cook, Vernon
Tanelle | Pub Worker, Langford
Jack | Hotel Worker, Kelowna
Michael | Hospitality Media, Vancouver
Justin | Restaurant Manager, Victoria
Wendee | Hotel Manager, Osoyoos
Ian | Restaurant Worker, Vancouver
Becky | Restaurant Worker, Whistler
Serge | Hotel Worker, Vancouver
Josh | Bartender, Vancouver
Darcy | Private Catering, Vancouver
Jessica | Server, Nanaimo
Eric | Server, Vancouver
Rachel | Restaurant Manager, Vancouver
Brooke | Server, Vancouver
Andy | Restaurant Worker, Vancouver
Steve | Wine Director, Vancouver
Kelly | Server, Vancouver
Benefits Awarded $53,500
Vicki | Liquor Store Employee, Nanaimo
Trevor | Restaurant Worker, Vancouver
Julie | Server, Pender Island
Nolan | Chef, Nanaimo
Lynn | Pub Worker, Nanaimo
Tina | Restaurant Worker, Ucuelet
Oracle | Restaurant Worker, Vancouver
Amber | Restaurant Worker, Langley
Jean | Restaurant Worker, Maple Ridge
Owen | Chef, Vancouver
Stephen | Pub Worker, Coquitlam
Tyler | Restaurant Worker, Vancouver
Veronica | Restaurant Worker, Qualicum Beach
Tim | Brewmaster, Victoria
Ian | Chef, Qualicum Beach
Karen | Restaurant & Pub Worker, Victoria
Cole | Restaurant Worker, Vancouver
Terry | Restaurant Worker, Penticton
Benefits Awarded $53,000
Kim | Food Supplier Employee, Coquitlam
Janice | Wine Agency Employee, Chilliwack
Ashlyn | Daughter, Hotel Worker, Kelowna
Shelley | Food Service Sales, Chilliwack
Jim | Pub Worker, Whistler
Alicia | Restaurant Worker, Nanaimo
Dave | Pub Worker, North Vancouver
Frank | Hotel Bartender, Vancouver
Sarah | Resort Worker, Invermere
Bruce | Pub Worker, Vancouver
Glen | Server, Victoria
Teresa | Restaurant Worker, Vancouver
Benefits Awarded $59,000
Sara | Hotel Cook, Victoria
Dawn | Private Caterer, Vancouver
Matthew | Cook, Salmon Arm
Anika | Cook, Kamloops
Teresa | Journalist, Vancouver
Darlana | Restaurant Worker, Coquitlam
Zaanneta | Bartender, Ladysmith
Sherry | Pub Worker, Langley
Charlie | Son, Bar Manager, Vancouver
Kevin | Banquet, Coquitlam
Benefits Awarded $25,000
Frank | Cook, Vancouver
Brenda | Wife, Restaurant Manager, Vancouver
Nathalie | Banquet Supervisor, Vancouver
Charles | Restaurant Manager, Vancouver
Benefits Awarded $24,500
Anne | Hotel Employee, Vancouver
Winnie | Foodservice Supplier, Vancouver
Rebecca | Daughter, Restaurant Workers, Penticton
Wendy | Pub Worker, Nanaimo
Benefits Awarded $50,000
Michael | Wine Agent, Vancouver
Beneficiaries By Location
Get To Know Us
Steven
A graduate of Northwest Culinary Academy, Steven was working at The Pear Tree restaurant when he fell ill in January 2016. One morning he woke up to no feeling in his feet, the paralysis moved through his body and he immediately underwent surgery to remove a growth on his spine due to a rare staph infection. Faced with a 6 month recovery period Steven turned to the BCHF who supported him through his recovery.
Andrea
Originally from Sydney, Australia Andrea was in a snowboarding accident, which led to breaking his left leg and requiring surgery. Prior to the injury he was working at Burdock & Co. As an amputee (right leg) the injury to his left leg was more serious than most. The BCHF was able to help Andrea after surgery during his recovery so he was able to return to work at Burdock & Co in full health.
Sarah
Sarah immigrated to Canada 15 years ago from England and as an avid snowboarder took up residency in Whistler. However, due to osteoarthritis due to her love of snowboarding she required a double hip replacement, which meant taking a break from working at Rim Rock Casino as a bartender, and Roland’s Creekside as a server. With both her recovery and the seasonality of Whistler in mind, the BCHF was able to support Sarah during recovery before returning part time work in early March of this year.
Ralf
Ralf applied for assistance to the BCHF in late December 2015 with the hopes of acquiring the necessary medical equipment after multiple foot surgeries after his left foot virtually collapsed. Prior to reaching out to the BCHF Ralf worked at Viti Wine and Lager as the General Manager. With help from the BCHF Ralf will be able to focus on getting back on his feet.
Michael
Michael has been part of the hospitality landscape as senior editor of Vancouver Magazine’s food and drink section, as well as, as managing editor of the Westender. Before taking on a new position with Glacier media to edit the debut edition of The Alchemist Michael was diagnosed with cervical dystonia, a rare neurological disorder that affects the neck muscles and produces painful spasms and postures. Michael’s condition is even more rare with his neck spasms backwards compromising his sleep. A doctor in New Mexico is an expert on the disease and the BCHF matched funds from a Go Fund Me campaign to help Michael learn how to live with his diagnosis.
Luke
In January of this year, one month after marrying his sweetheart, a lump was found and Luke began fighting Stage 3 cancer with rigorous chemotherapy treatments. His new wife was new to the province from the east and working a part time job. Luke has been a chef at Milestone’s Langley for three years and on January 27th Milestone’s held a fundraiser for Luke. His friends and family also set up a Go-Fund-Me campaign. The BCHF matched funds from both initiatives to help Luke.
Genieve
Genieve suffered three concussions in less than a year and a ruptured eardrum on the set of a student film resulting in headaches, blurred vision and slurred speech. She was unable to take care of her guests at Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar because of her post concussion syndrome symptoms. Recovery for Genieve meant rest, massage therapy, acupuncture, reflexology and supplements to treat the brain. The BCHF was able to provide financial support to Genieve until she was able to return to work part time.
Bonnie
Bonnie has worked in the hospitality industry for over 42 years, mostly recently at Sawbucks Pub in White Rock as a bartender. As a widowed mother of three, Bonnie sought support for her oldest daughter’s medical needs when a fire occurred at and shut down Sawbucks Pub for renovations through the Spring and Summer of this year. The BCHF was able to provide a subsidy for the family’s living expenses until Bonnie was able to resume work at the reopened Sawbucks Pub.
Billy
Billy has been a valuable Gray Monk Estate Winery employee since 2008. In January 2016, he experienced pain in his arms, which was determined to be a worsening spinal cord condition. Intense pain forced him to leave work for two months. Passionate about his work and industry, Billy elected to have surgery as soon as possible, receiving successful treatment in Seattle. Financial assistance from the BCHF allows Billy and his wife to cover expenses and focus on recovery until he returns to the workforce.
Valerie
Valerie moved to Whistler two years ago and began working at La Brasserie as a server, while enjoying the slopes. Due to a snowboarding injury in November 2015, where Valerie suffered an incomplete fracture of her T12 vertebra she was forced to take time off work and focus on recovery in Vancouver. With the help of the BCHF Valerie was able to return to Whistler after being at GF Strong with a positive prognosis of being able to start work again after 6 months versus the original year proposed by her doctors.
Rick
In May 2015, Rick, a veteran in the hospitality industry, contracted strep pneumonia and bacterial meningitis. He was rushed to the hospital where he was immediately put on full life support and placed into a medically induced coma for 4-and-a-half weeks. During this time he developed sepsis and necrosis causing his hands and feet to turn black due to lack of circulation. His limbs were amputated to save his life and Rick applied for help with the BCHF to help fund a pair of myo electric hands. In June 2016, his friends and family held a fundraiser in Coquitlam that the BCHF was able to support through matched funds.
Michael
On January Michael was diagnosed with acute liver failure and was in need of a transplant immediately. As senior viticulturist at Constellation Brands and a past chair of the BC Wine Grape Council Michael’s work in the wine industry has been integral. The BCHF was able to provide matched funds based on the YouCaring page that had been set up for his transplant to take place in Taiwan. Michael got his new liver in February and is well on his way to a full recovery.
Melissa
One October, Melissa and her husband Ryan woke up to find their two-year-old daughter Julia unable to walk or move. It was determined Julia suffered from a spontaneous hematoma (blood clot) that left her with a spinal cord injury. Melissa left her job as the Senior Conference Manager at the Delta Grand Okanagan in order to take care of and ensure Julia gets to her treatments in Vancouver each week. The BCHF was able to help provide funds in partnership with Spinal Cord Injury BC that will help Julia get treatment at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Washington, DC.
Joshua
Josh was working at Oru Resturant in the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel when he was attacked in downtown Vancouver in October 2015. The attack included a punch to his head that did serious damage to his face and brain. On February 22, Josh’s coworkers held an event to raise funds for him as his recovery is set to take at least a year. The BCHF matched funds for the event his coworkers organized.
Aja
Aja has been working in the hospitality industry since her teenage years and is currently a full time server with managerial duties at Locus Lounge in Vancouver. In Spring of this year Aja tripped in Gastown and landed on her forearms resulting in two broken elbows. The BCHF helped with her expenses during recovery, which included physiotherapy. Aja was happy to return to work performing light duties as she continues to get stronger.
Chris
Chris started bartending at The Diamond in March 2015. In December 2015 his leg snapped as he was bending over to pick something up resulting in surgery plus at least 4 months of recovery before the screws can be removed and full recovery can begin. With at least a year of physiotherapy ahead of Chris, The Diamond held a fundraiser in December 2015 and the BCHF matched the funds raised to help with his expenses until he was able to return to work.