
Welcome to a taste of VCC
Meet our chefs: 2026 Flourish
Get to know the talented chefs behind our exceptional dishes. Each one brings their unique expertise and passion for flavor, combining innovation with tradition to create unforgettable dining experiences. From masterful Italian craftsmanship to bold, wood-fired creations, our chefs pour their heart into every plate.
Karen Gin
Chef Karen is a Vancouver Community College (VCC) alum and has been in the industry for 30 years. She has previously worked for Fairmont Hotels and the Shangri-la Vancouver and enjoys exploring independent grocery stores and finding unique culinary treats.
Chef Karen has been a member of the VCC faculty since 2012 and enjoys connecting with students by sharing food experiences and storytelling.
Kebs Liu
Kebs Liu is the chef behind Kebsmakesicecream, a small-batch frozen custard project built around childhood memories and curiosity. He works with rare leaves from O5 Tea to create ice creams that are creamy, balanced, and “not too sweet.” Kebs has been hosting events and dinner parties for many years before honing his skills in the professional kitchens of Minami and the Shangrila Market.
A VCC Culinary Arts grad who’s spent years working across restaurants and cafés, Kebs is also well-travelled, drawing inspiration and tasting experiences from his journeys around the world. He channels that mix of nostalgia, wanderlust, and curiosity into frozen form factors that everyone can experience and enjoy.
Tobias MacDonald
Chef Tobias was born and raised in beautiful B.C.; he studied physics and chemistry before pursuing a career in hospitality. At La Belle Auberge, under mentor Bruno Marti, he discovered culinary competition and his creative voice. Chef Tobias has competed around the world, winning multiple gold medals as Team Canada Captain in 2008 at the prestigious IKA World Culinary Olympics in Erfurt Germany, as well as gold medals in the World Culinary Cup in Luxembourg and the Salon Culinaire Mondial in Switzerland. He was the America’s representative at the World Association of Chefs Societies Global Chef competition in Daejeon, South Korea in 2011 and won third place. He later coached Canada’s Junior and Senior National Teams for eight years.
Today, he is a VCC instructor and Canada’s second Certified Master Chef (CMC), the only one in his class to pass and achieve the country’s highest culinary designation.
Warren Chow
Chef Chow is also passionate about giving back, supporting food education, sustainability, and accessibility initiatives.
Ysabel Sukic
Chef Ysabel Sukic is the Chair of the BC Cook Trade Training Articulation Committee and the Lead Curriculum Developer for the VCC Culinary Arts Department, where she guides province-wide collaboration on culinary education standards and ongoing curriculum renewal initiatives. She previously served as the Department Head of Culinary Arts at VCC for almost a decade.
As an innovator in culinary education, she has integrated virtual and augmented reality technologies into culinary training, created an international field school in Mexico, mentored in Kenya, as has expanded learning opportunities for students and educators alike.
A Certified Chef de Cuisine (CCC) and Red Seal Chef (RSE) with more than twenty years of professional and teaching experience, Chef Sukic mentors the next generation of chefs, fosters creativity, collaboration, and cultural connection in every kitchen and classroom she leads.
Zack Bernardo
Contact
If you have any questions regarding the event or are interested in supporting Flourish through corporate sponsorship or philanthropic giving, please contact:
Mihira Appnender
For any other questions regarding Flourish 2026, please contact:
Sára Molčan