This endowment will be established in loving memory of Serge Henri Simard (April 4, 1955 - May 1, 2018), a renowned champion of Canadian food and wine.
Curious about everything and interested in everyone, Serge was particularly passionate about food and wine and was at his happiest when sharing a fine meal and a good vintage. His ability to convey this enthusiasm, combined with his insistence on excellence and extraordinary capacity for hard work, carried him from humble beginnings as a dishwasher to a top, international food and beverage position at Fairmont Hotels and Resorts.
His support for all things local, as well as for small-scale farmers and growers, has been adopted by the hospitality industry in Canada. He worked to promote Canadian wines and played a key role in advancing the Vintners Quality Alliance regulatory and appellation system (VQA). Serge’s contribution to the food and beverage industry was recognized by such notable organizations as the Confrérie de la ChaÎne des Rôtisseurs, the Canadian Restaurant & Food Service Association, the International Food & Beverage Forum, Cuisine Canada, and the Ontario Hostelry Institute.
While his professional success resulted from an unwavering dedication to a fast-paced and demanding career, his personal qualities enchanted his family, friends, and colleagues around the world. Comfortable to be around, charming and attentive to those he cared for and worked with, Serge was in all ways a man who saw the wine glass as half full.
The Fairmont Serge Simard Endowment for Global Hospitality Learning is awarded to a student in the School of Hospitality who shows dedication to their program of study and has faced financial obstacles to their studies at George Brown.
100% of your donation will directly go to support the scholarship. Donors will receive by email a tax receipt for the full amount of the donation. If you have any questions, please contact Trinity Zhang, George Brown College Foundation at tyzhang@georgebrown.ca or 416-415-5000 ext. 3721.
