The dog days of summer are with us and “hots and hams” are flying out the doors of all our bakeries. It’s warm in our workplaces and it is important to make sure you and your staff are well hydrated. Don’t wait until you feel faint and dizzy: take breaks, drink water and stand in the walk-in cooler for a few minutes. If you are a supervisor or owner, put in place some strategies for dealing with the heat. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” as the saying goes. Your team will be happy and healthy and just as productive during these busy weeks when they know that the most important resource in the bakery is human!
FALL EVENTS AND PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS
This fall the Ontario and B.C. Chapters are planning exciting educational events for members:
- Ontario Chapter fall wine tasting event with Certified Sommelier Josh Fraser
- B.C. Chapter evening with Chef Christophe Bonzon
GOLF FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES
If you would like to participate in the fundraising to support our Canadian baking and pastry students, there is still time to sign up for a golf tournament: BAC Atlantic Canada Chapter is set for Monday, Sept. 12.
BREAD BAKERS GUILD FREE RECIPROCAL MEMBERSHIPS
Did you know that as a BAC member, you can sign up for a free membership to the Bread Bakers Guild of America (BBGA)? Register at https://members.bbga.org/page-1603681 and use the code BAC2204.
BBGA NEWS
On that note we would like to welcome Karen Bornarth as the new executive director of the Guild. Karen has been part of the BBGA community as both a member and an educator for the past 20 years. She says she is a bread baker at heart since she began her baking career as an overnight baker at Amy’s Bread owned by Amy Scherber – one of BBGA’s founding members. Karen was a bread instructor at The International Culinary Center for five years and was known for her passion for bread through her class “Science of Sourdough.” Karen’s varied experiences and competencies have prepared her well for this position.
Since 2014, Karen has been at Hot Bread Kitchen, where she served first as Program Director of Workforce Development then as Head of Workforce Development and finally as Vice-President of Industry Partnerships and Initiatives. Hot Bread Kitchen empowers and creates economic opportunities for immigrant women and women of colour through job skills training and food entrepreneurship.
We at the BAC congratulate Karen on her new role and look forward to working with her as our two associations explore synergies.
MEMBERSHIPS
Not a member of the BAC yet, or know someone who would like to join? Sign up here: https://baking.ca/membership.
GIZELLA PASTRY
On a sadder note, we extend our condolences to the family and co-workers of Ben Sotelo, who died in a tragic accident at Gizella Pastry in Vancouver. The thoughts of our whole baking community are with you at this time.
Martin Barnett is Executive Director and General Manager of the Baking Association of Canada. You can read him at mbarnett@baking.ca
