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Blaze destroys wine professionals’ home

A well-known wine industry professional in the Whistler food and beverage industry lost his home in a fire early Tuesday morning.

A well-known wine industry professional in the Whistler food and beverage industry lost his home in a fire early Tuesday morning.

DJ Kearney and David Scholefield, both prominent wine industry experts, lived in a North Vancouver house near the intersection of Dollarton Highway and Old Dollarton Highway with Kearney’s two teenage sons. All family members escaped the blaze without serious industry, but the family’s cat was killed and the home and its contents were destroyed.

Investigators say the fire started in a diesel furnace and by the time firefighters arrived at the scene, the older home was well engulfed by the blaze. The home was insured, but there are essential emergency items that need to be taken care of immediately.

“At this time the most important thing is that the entire family is safe,” said family friend, Leeann Clemens. “Their immediate need is for practical items such as new identification and eyeglasses, clothing and a place to stay.”

Anyone wishing to offer assistance can make a donation to the Kearney/Scholefield Fire Trust at the North Shore Credit Union, account # 179986-04, or contact Leeann Clemens at fire@ccltd.ca .

 

(To run with Dining Out For Life)

 

Culinary hall of famers

 

Two foodies with ties to Whistler are being inducted into the B.C. Restaurant Hall of Fame at the fourth annual gala on Monday, April 7 at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Bernard Casavant, a long-time restaurateur, is being recognized with an industry award for contributions to the back of the house. Casavant was the executive chef at the Chateau Whistler for several years, and was the owner and chef at a café in the upper village. Currently the operator of The Senora Room Restaurant at the Burrowing Owl Estate Winery, Casavant has prepared meals for a wide range of public figures and celebrities throughout his career, including Princess Diana and Prince Charles, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Liberace, John Travolta, Neil Diamond and Kenny Rogers.

Anthony Gismondi, an acclaimed Canadian wine critic, writer, broadcaster, and public speaker, is being recognized as a Friend of the Industry. Gismondi is beginning his 19 th year as the weekly wine columnist at the Vancouver Sun, his third year as editor-in-chief at Wine Access and he also writes a monthly wine column for Pique Newsmagazine . He spends at least three months each year traveling to vineyards throughout the world to experience site-specific wines.