Darren Patrick:
As the founder of timinganddelivery.com, Darren has been rambling on about what you need to know about service and why you need to know it since late 2007. Based in Vancouver, Darren has a professional background rooted in Management and Finance; however, his right-brained passions are channelled through timinganddelivery.com in a ’sitting-right-in-front-of-you-and-telling-you-a-story’ kind of way. His three-pronged style: tell them what you’re going to tell them; tell them; and tell them what you just told them.

Degan Beley:
Degan is a freelance writer, foodist, and wine lover prone to wandering the city in search of adventure and then heading home to write about it. She has a special fondness for Malbec, manchego and prosciutto, as well as dark corner tables and savvy bartenders, so feels lucky to be one of those rare born-and-raised Vancouverites who knows where the action is.

Mercedes Grant:
Born in Calgary, Alberta, Mercedes currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia where she owns and operates an independent consulting company. Mercedes’ passion is writing, traveling and the creative arts. She has been on the team of an independent documentary film as a writer, researcher and associate producer. Mercedes continues to expand her repertoire with exciting and innovative projects with a particular interest in philanthropy, the mind/body connection, world issues, travel and cuisine.

Kath Rebuen:
A global wanderer with a community spirit, Kath lives and loves to eat. and drink. and explore. and share the love. Raised in the ‘burbs of Australia, Kath currently calls downtown Vancouver her home. Always the party thrower and never the party pooper, find her: manning the bar; heating up the kitchen; or scouring farmers markets for fresh ingredients. In between eating and drinking Kath makes ‘To Do’ lists: ensuring that no corner bar, boutique, restaurant or local event goes unnoticed and unturned. Kath cut her foodie teeth in her grandmother’s kitchen, found her drinking legs as a cocktail waitress, and her eye for service detail as a student of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Still, her defining hospitality moment was that of KFC drive-thru girl.

Erin Bonsol:
A graduate of U of C’s electrical engineering program, Erin prefers to shock and astonish stereotypical believers by pursuing vegetarianism, b-girling, writing poetry, and reading up on quantum physics and anything music-related. She can trace her roots from Calgary through Africa and Asia to Manila, Philippines, but can’t really call anywhere home (and likes it that way!). While she may enjoy a diverse range of interests, what Erin really likes to focus her enthusiasm and energy into is finding a decent veggie burger and/or an awesome pair of kicks.

Jamie Witham:
Originally from the windy city, Jamie is a long-time wanderer – from the badlands to the rocky mountains, and makes it her mission to explore not only the local foods but museums, parks, that street that you accidentally-turn-on-to-that-leads-nowhere, and anything else that catches her eye. Having nearly graduated from Mount Royal University’s bachelor of business program, Jamie is always on the lookout for a coffee shop or friendly bistro to study at and actively searches out inviting spaces to share her passion with her friends.

Don Camacho:
Living in Calgary since 1998, Don James ‘DJ’ Camacho is always discovering new places as the days go by. He’s the self-proclaimed ‘Nicest Guy in Calgary’ and is always greeting the day (and random strangers) with a smile. An Economics major by day, a constant traveler by night and a full-fledged cyclist/film photographer all around, DJ is always on the move to try out new things, to experience what the city has to offer and to grow alongside the booming metropolis that is Calgary.

Frances Avalon:
While based in Toronto, Frances doesn’t consider herself “from” there. She equally adores and despises the city and all of its many layers, rife with discovery. As a child, she loved pink and wanted to marry Andre The Giant, which is all you’ll ever need to know.

Vanessa Green:
When Vanessa ‘VG” Green isn’t working hard for the money, she enjoys sipping on G & Ts at Toronto’s finest watering holes. She recommends you check out coffee at Niche, dinner at Colborne Lane (if you have deep pockets) and hip hop karaoke at Revival. She enjoys long walks on the beach, Degrassi Junior High (the original series) and dropping mad cash at The St. Lawrence Market.

Connie Tsang:
After years living away from the city (and viciously waving the “Toronto the Bad” flag), Connie has returned to her ol’ stompin’ grounds in that Hollywood-esque, finding-herself way. She now calls “Tronno” home again — and is downright proud of it, too. When she’s not patronizing shops/restaurants and yapping about it, she immerses herself in freelance photography and writing work, most notably for blogTO and CBC Radio 3.