Upcoming events.
CHeck out What Happening with the NVICA
Curious about what’s happening with NVICA? Check out our webpage for the latest updates, upcoming events, and ways to get involved. From professional development opportunities to community gatherings, there’s always something exciting in the works.
Freezer Raffle
FREEZER RAFFLE FUNDRAISER 2025
TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT :
635 McPhee Avenue
Courtenay, BC
Canada V9N 2Z7
Tel: 250 334 4422
Campbell River campus at the Cafe
1685 South Dogwood Street,
Campbell River, BC V9W 8C1
Fill the Freezer with Fine Specialty Foods Raffle
The North Vancouver Island Culinary Association (NVICA) is preparing to launch our major fundraising activity for 2025.
The raffle winner will receive:
A new upright freezer filled with local, professionally prepared, ready to serve foods.
All dishes will be provided frozen and fully labelled with cooking instructions and ingredients listed, for an estimated value more than $5,000.
Parker’s Appliances & More has supplied a new 20 cu.ft upright freezer.
The funds raised will be distributed by NVICA for local culinary student scholarships, NVICA member’s continuing education, and community workshops that promote food security in the North Vancouver Island region.
As a branch of the Culinary Federation of Canada, NVICA is a non-profit association representing chefs and cooks from Nanaimo to the northern tip of Vancouver Island, and Powell River. Our goals are to promote culinary excellence and aid the growth and development of our industry while providing networking opportunities for our membership.
This raffle is a co-ordinated effort involving association members, industry partners, restaurants, and culinary arts students at North Island College and Vancouver Island University.
Non-profit society number: BC 82459 2927
The 4,000 tickets will sell for $5 each, beginning March 1st and ending June 1st, 2025
The raffle winner will be drawn June 21nd, 2025 at 12 p.m.
Churn, Taste, Cheers: Exploring Powell River’s Culinary Treasures
NVICA Powell River Trip
or RSVP : events.nvica@gmail.com
Get ready for a day packed with flavors, fun, and exploration as NVICA heads to Powell River this April! This exciting trip promises to highlight local artistry, delicious food, and a great time with fellow culinary enthusiasts.
Itinerary Highlights:
• Ferry Ride (9:55-11:25): Start the adventure with a scenic ferry ride.
• Wild Scoop Artisanal Ice Cream Workshop (11:45-1:15): Dive into the art of handcrafted ice cream with Linda at Wild Scoop. Rotate through stations to learn techniques for creating delicious ice creams, PB ice cream, waffle cones, and plant-based charcoal cones.
• Lunch (1:15-2:15): Enjoy a tasty Surpirse lunch, option to sample Wild Scoop’s ice cream creations ($7). Take a short break to walk around and soak in Powell River’s charm.
• Downtown Exploration (2:15): Stretch your legs with a stroll downtown, including a visit to the Townsite Market.
• Townsite Brewery Tour & Sampling (2:45-4:15): Wrap up the day with a tour and flight sampling at Townsite Brewery.
Return Ferry (5:15-6:45): Head back after an unforgettable day of learning, tasting, and connecting.
This trip offers a fantastic opportunity to experience Powell River’s culinary and cultural scene. There’s no workshop fee, so participants can focus on sampling the best of what the town has to offer. Mark your calendar and join us for this flavorful spring adventure!
Interactive Expo for Careers in Natural Resources
“Students and Parents interested in exploring careers within the Natural Resource Sector are invited to engage with local employers and gain insights into the skills and knowledge required for a variety for career pathways and jobs. Many industry careers will be present with engaging tools, presentations, and equipment for hands on exploration.
If you are curious about local careers, pathways, and education available within the resource sector, please join us at Timberline on May 9th.”
The World’s Largest Nanaimo Bar
Join us as VIU takes on an epically sweet challenge, creating the world’s largest Nanaimo bar!
Using the official City of Nanaimo recipe, students from the Culinary Arts and Professional Baking and Pastry Arts programs will come together to create an impressive mix of chocolate, custard, coconut and more chocolate.
This family-friendly event includes:
a chance to see the record-breaking Nanaimo bar
a piece of the world’s largest Nanaimo bar to enjoy
food trucks, games and other fun activities for all ages
Schedule:
11 am: View the world’s largest Nanaimo bar
12 pm: Speeches and official cutting the record-breaking treat
Let’s bring the record home to Nanaimo!
Food Day Canada
Food Day Canada engages and inspires everyone to shop, cook & dine Canadian. It’s a chance for all Canadians to join hands in one massive celebration in praise of our farmers and fishers, our chefs and researchers and, above all, our home cooks. Join in and celebrate Food Day Canada August 2, 2025.
COOKSCAMP
We are very excited to announce COOKSCAMP is back for 2025! The immense success of COOKSCAMP 2024 last September left us all with feelings of resounding optimism and hope for our industry. There were so many great stories made and people inspired that we owed it to the amazing people of our industry to keep the positivity going. Planning and organizing has already begun for another amazing line up of activations and events over the two-day event that will stoke everyone’s passion for our industry’s future. COOKSCAMP 2025 will again be hosted by our friends at North Arm Farm in Pemberton BC, truly on of the most picturesque farms in the world.
– Chefs’ Table Society
We’re Back at Comox Mall!
Do you want to win a freezer full of ready-prepared meals by local chefs?
The North Vancouver Island Culinary Associations “Freezer Raffle” is in full swing, and we’re returning to Comox Mall on April 19 from 9 AM to 5 PM to sell tickets.
Grand Prize: A brand-new 20 cu. ft. upright freezer packed with delicious, locally crafted, ready-to-serve meals—valued at over $5,000.
Tickets: $5 each
Where: Comox Centre Mall
When: Friday, April 19, 9 AM – 5 PM
All proceeds support local culinary student scholarships, continuing education, and community food programs.Don’t miss your chance to support a great cause and win big.
Come see us at the mall and grab your tickets.
#NVICA #Freezerraffle #SupportLocal #ComoxValley #CulinaryExcellence
Freezer Ticket @Comox Mall
🎟️ NVICA Freezer Raffle – Tickets on Sale Tomorrow at Comox Centre Mall! Friday 21,2025❄️🍽️
Join us tomorrow at Comox Centre Mall as we kick off ticket sales for our 2025 Fill the Freezer with Fine Specialty Foods Raffle!
🏆 Grand Prize: A brand new 20 cu. ft. upright freezer filled with over $5,000 worth of locally prepared, ready-to-serve gourmet dishes! All items come fully frozen with cooking instructions and ingredient labels.
🎟️ Tickets: Just $5 each!
📍 Where: Comox Centre Mall
🔹 Draw Date: June 21, 2025, at 12 p.m.
All funds raised will support local culinary student scholarships, NVICA member education, and community food security workshops.
Come see us, grab your tickets, and help support the North Vancouver Island Culinary Association (NVICA)!
Western Conference
Join us for the Western Conference in Kelowna from March 7-9, 2025. Enjoy networking opportunities, a welcome dinner at Maestro’s Mediterranean, board meetings, and a companion outing. Experience a memorable evening at Tantalus Vineyards and watch the BC Provincial Cook-Off at Lakehouse Kitchens.
Back to Basics
The North Vancouver Island Culinary Association is thrilled to invite you to our upcoming Back to Basics event, hosted at the iconic Native Sons Hall in Courtenay! This year’s theme, Sugar Shack, brings the warmth and nostalgia of a classic Canadian tradition to life.
Step into a cozy, rustic celebration of maple-inspired delights, where chefs and culinary enthusiasts come together to enjoy good food, great company, and creative takes on the sweet flavors of the season. From traditional maple taffy to inspired savory pairings, this is your chance to reconnect with the roots of Canadian cuisine while networking with the vibrant NVICA community.
Whether you’re a chef, a foodie, or someone who simply loves a good time, you won’t want to miss this memorable evening. Mark your calendar, spread the word, and join us at the Native Sons Hall – let’s make this a Sugar Shack to remember!
Snowshoeing Adventure at Mount Washington
Get ready for a day of winter fun with NVICA! We’re planning a snowshoeing adventure at Mount Washington’s Raven Lodge on February 23, 2025.
Check for more details
Executive Meeting
The first NVICA Executive Zoom Meeting of the year is scheduled for January. This meeting will focus on updates, planning, and discussions around upcoming events and initiatives for 2025.
Winter Social
t’s that time of year again! Join us for the NVICA Winter Social, our much-anticipated annual event that brings together chefs, food producers, and culinary enthusiasts for an evening of celebration and connection.