A Snapshot in Time

Have you ever wondered where the Canadian Association of Foodservice Professionals got its roots?

1901 - The Stewards Club members called a general meeting at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, New York and organized the International Stewards Association.

1932 - The International Stewards Association merged with the Caterers Association and became the Executive Stewards and Caterers Association.

1937 - A branch was chartered in Montreal, Canada.

1957-1960 - The Executive Stewards and Caterers Association became the Food Service Executives Association (in 1975 its name was changed to IFSEA) based in the United States.

1959 - The Vancouver Branch of the Food Service Executives Association was chartered. In Ontario, three branches, Toronto, Kingston and Ottawa, were members of a provincially chartered organization called the Canadian Food Service Association (CFSA).

1970 - Montreal and CFSA discussed the possibility of forming a Canadian Association. The Montreal Branch sponsored MacDonald College, McGill University, as the first Student Branch in Canada.

1972 - Hamilton-Niagara Branch was formed as part of the Canadian Food Service Association.

1974 - The Canadian Food Service Executives Association (CFSEA) was formed under the strong leadership of David Weightman, CFE. Toronto, Ottawa, Kingston, Hamilton-Niagara and Montreal were part of the founding branches.

1975 - The Canadian Food Service Executives Association received it national charter. Educational speakers were programmed into meetings, membership expanded to include women as full members and leaders, student programs and bursary programs were developed.

1976 - Vancouver Branch joined CFSEA and completely severed its relationship with IFSEA in 1978.

1970-80 - Branches were chartered in Halifax-Dartmouth, Moncton (now called the New Brunswick Branch), Cape Breton, Fredericton, London, Manitoba, Central Alberta, Victoria, and Edmonton. The Northumberland Branch is the newest Professional branch and celebrated its 10th anniversary in 1999.

1999 - CFSEA celebrated at its 25th anniversary conference held in Moncton.

As with any organization, some branches did not survive and such is the case for Cape Breton, Fredericton and Kingston. The Central Alberta Branch has evolved into the Calgary Branch.

2001 - The CFSEA applauded the IFSEA as it celebrated its 100th anniversary in March in Anaheim, California. Our roots are in their history.

2003 - The CFSEA changed its name to the Canadian Association of Foodservice Professionals (CAFP) to more appropriately reflect the professional role of its members.