November 2026

Dear Members,

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Pinebrook for such a wonderful evening. It was a great way to come together, reconnect around the table, and begin what I think will be a very exciting season for the Calgary Bailliage.

I also want to take a moment to say how excited and honoured I am to be taking over from Joe as the next Bailli of the Calgary Chaîne. I am very grateful for the support and encouragement I have received from so many of you already. I am learning a great deal, and I look forward to speaking with many of you over the coming months, hearing what you value about the Chaîne, what we can do better for our members, and how we continue to honour the traditions and history of the organization while building an exciting future for Calgary.

I had the privilege of being officially intronized as Bailli at the Grand Chapitre du Canada in Edmonton in October, which made the gathering particularly meaningful for me.

Our next Calgary gathering will be on Sunday, December 13 at Teatro for our Chapitre. Teatro has such a strong reputation in Calgary, and I am very much looking forward to what they will create for us. The menu, wines and full event details will be shared shortly.

We have also put together our 2026–27 season calendar, and I hope you will take a moment to look ahead and save the dates. We have a terrific mix of events planned, including The Nash, a two-day Canmore weekend at the Malcolm Hotel, The Dorian, Queen’s Bistro, Modern Steak, Bar Chouette, Earl Grey Golf Club and Hotel Arts.

Our goal is to create a calendar that gives members different reasons to come together throughout the year: exceptional food and wine, wonderful venues, fellowship, tradition and experiences that feel distinctly Chaîne. Invitations will generally be issued approximately two months before each event, with members receiving the first opportunity to reserve before guest registration opens.

An equally important part of our story is the Canadian Chaîne Foundation. Supporting young chefs and young sommeliers, providing opportunities for them to develop, and helping inspire the next generation of hospitality professionals is central to what the Chaîne stands for. It is something I hope we make much more visible within our Calgary Bailliage throughout the year.

The Foundation recently held its first-ever online auction, featuring some wonderful and unique items donated by Chaîne members from across Canada. The proceeds will help support the Foundation and our young culinarians. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to its success.

And, of course, our friends in Edmonton hosted the 2026 Grand Chapitre du Canada from October 22–24. The weekend included Thursday evening dine-arounds, Friday’s welcome reception at the Royal Glenora Club, and Saturday’s Bailli Lunch followed by the induction ceremony and Grand Chapitre Gala at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald. The Gala also recognized our Jeunes Chefs alongside the inductions and promotions, a fitting reminder of the importance of developing the next generation within our organization.

There is a lot happening within the Chaîne, both here in Calgary and across Canada, and I am genuinely excited about what is ahead. My hope is that we continue to build a Bailliage that honours what has made the Chaîne special for generations, while continuing to evolve, one where our members feel connected, valued and proud to belong.

Thank you again to everyone who joined us at Pinebrook, and thank you for your support as I step into this new role. For those we missed, I hope we will see you at Teatro in December.

Vive la Chaîne!

Ryan Woods
Bailli
Bailliage de Calgary