Women in Business: Spring Dinner

March 5, 2024 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (PST)

Description

A Women in Business Event: Mujeres Rising! Presented by The Scotiabank Women Initiative. Join us at El Santo, an upscale modern Mexican restaurant in Downtown New West, for an unforgettable culinary experience led by celebrity guest Chef Andrea Alridge that will feature a welcome cocktail and a four-course meal with a tequila-paired dessert. 

Along with the culinary experience, you'll be empowered by words from Metro Vancouver Transit Police Chief Officer, Suzanne Muir, local business owner and winner of Female Business Leader of the Year in 2023, Karima Jivraj, and the musings of host Vanessa Woznow. 

Mujeres, you'll laugh, you'll learn, you'll rise! 

GUEST CHEF

Andrea Alridge | Celebrity Guest Chef

Locally born and raised, Andrea Aldridge began her career in the culinary arts at Vancouver Community College. While in school, she tackled working full-time at Raincity Grill, home of the 100-mile menu, where she quickly moved up the ranks to sous chef. It was there she learned the importance of cooking locally sourced ingredients. Following that, she joined the esteemed brigade at CinCin Ristorante. At CinCin, she rigorously worked her way to the position of Chef de Cuisine, honing her skills in wood-fired cooking techniques and Italian cuisine. She recently led the team as the Head Chef at Osteria Savio Volpe.  She competed on Food Network’s Top Chef Canada, where she flourished and earned her spot in the finale. Making an appearance on the show enabled her to showcase her heritage, something which is very quintessential to her becoming a Chef. Andrea has an eclectic background, being of Filipino and Jamaican descent. In her youth, she lived in Jamaica for a short period of time; that is where she found her true passion for cooking.

SPEAKERS

Chief Suzanne Muir | Chief Officer, Metro Vancouver Transit Police & Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame Inductee

Following over 28 years of policing experience at the Vancouver Police Department, Chief Officer Suzanne Muir joined Transit Police in 2022, overseeing key areas that included the Operations Communications Centre, Explosive Detection Dog Team, Community Engagement Team, Targeted Mobile Enforcement Team, Finance, Human Resources, Recruitment and Training, Facilities and Fleet. Chief Muir also served as a Transit Police representative on the TransLink, CACP and BCACP Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committees. Chief Muir joined the VPD in 1995, and gained diverse policing experience, having worked with the VPD Strike Force, the General Investigation Unit, Robbery, Assault and Arson Unit, Major Crime Section and Special Investigation Section. In 2015, she was promoted to Inspector and remained as the Officer-In-Charge of the Special Investigation Section, before transferring in 2017 to the Diversity, Inclusion and Indigenous Relations Section and Victim Services Unit. In 2021, she joined the Operations Division as a District Commander. Chief Muir is the recipient of nine VPD Commendations, including three Chief Constable Commendations. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of British Columbia and is an inductee into the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame.

Karima Jivraj | Owner, Bosley’s by Pet Valu & Female Business Leader of the Year in 2023 

Karima Jivraj started her career in the corporate world working for companies like RBC, Purolator, Ballard, Xantrex Technologies and then moved to work at UBC. In 2011, Karima opened the Bosley’s by Pet Valu at Columbia Square in New Westminster, BC. Since then, Karima has been an active member of the community and is an Executive Director of Pets Canada, a member of the Transit Police Chief Community Council and volunteer with the Metro Vancouver Transit Police Eagle Cadet program. She was the past president of the Downtown New Westminster BIA and a board director of the New Westminster Chamber Commerce.  Karima also works with several local rescues and shelters to help with fundraising, product donations and support. Karima is a brand ambassador for Bosley’s by Pet Valu and also trains and mentors new franchise partners. Karima has won several awards and most recently was awarded the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce Platinum Awards Female Business Leader of Year for 2023.

HOST

Vanessa Woznow 

Vanessa Woznow is a communications consultant, storyteller, runner, and comedian from New Westminster. She has performed at the Vancouver International Comedy Festival, spoken to 10,000+ people outside of the Vancouver Art Gallery, and is a big draw on the New West Hospice Society’s comedy circuit. She has a BFA in creative writing and an MA in political science, which she sometimes combines to write award-winning romantic comedies starring Leon Trotsky. When not at the keyboard or on the stage, she is an active member of the New Westminster Library Board, can be found teaching improv to high school students, working on her pull-ups, or running the city’s never-ending hills. She is a mother to a three-and-a-half-year-old, who is sometimes Elsa, sometimes a saber-toothed tiger, sometimes a t-rex and sometimes all three combined. She is the stone-cold feminist she is because of her own mother, who chose International Women’s Day to start her next celestial journey fighting for gender equity, and she looks forward to meeting other members of the rebel alliance on March 5th.

DINNER MENU

1st Course:
Tuna Tartare with Plantain Chips (Gluten-Free) or Cactus Tartare (Vegan and Gluten-Free)

2nd Course:
Mushroom Tamale with roasted Tomato Salsa (Gluten-Free, Vegetarian)

3rd Course:
Primrose Pork with Miso Soubise and Black Garlic Vinaigrette

4th Course:
Passion Fruit and Hibiscus Dream - White Chocolate Mousse, Passion Fruit Sponge, Hibiscus Gel and Basil Tuile.