RAILTOWN CATERING - Key Persons
Born and raised in Vancouver, Chef Dan Olson sparked an abiding passion for food and wine during stints at the Century Grill Restaurant and Bacchus Restaurant at The Wedgewood Hotel, where he earned the coveted role of Apprentice under Chef Robert Sulatycky for the Bocuse d'Or, helping Canada record a best-ever fourth-place finish at the prestigious world chef championship in 1999 before embarking on an extensive culinary walkabout and honing his craft in top-tier kitchens throughout the world.
Dan comes by his classical French techniques honestly, having worked under Chef Guy Lassausaie at his eponymous Michelin-starred restaurant in Lyon and Chef Yannick Alleno at the Michelin-starred restaurant Les Muses at the Hotel Scribe in Paris. Olson returned from his overseas sojourn in 2002 and cheffed for Four Seasons Resorts and Hotels in Chicago, Whistler, Dallas, Cairo, Bahamas, Washington, D.C., Toronto and Jackson Hole before settling in California in 2006, where he worked as Senior Sous Chef and Executive Sous Chef at the Mobil Five-Star- and AAA Five-Diamond-award winning Beverly Hills Hotel before taking on the role of Executive Chef at the iconic Hotel Bel Air in Los Angeles in 2009.
Job Titles:
- Event Sales Coordinator
- Event Sales Manager
Gillian, our skilled Event Sales Coordinator, brings a wealth of expertise and a passion for orchestrating memorable experiences. Hailing from Calgary, Alberta, she was naturally drawn to the beauty of the West Coast. Her summers spent reveling in Vancouver's beaches and mountains, courtesy of her sister's move to the city, ignited her love for this vibrant coastal community.
For Gillian, event coordination is more than a profession; it's her life's calling. A pivotal moment in her career came after planning her own wedding, which unveiled her innate talent for crafting seamless, unforgettable occasions. With her deep-rooted enthusiasm for event planning, she embarked on a journey that merged her background in hospitality with her meticulous planning skills.
Outside of her demanding role as an Event Sales Coordinator, Gillian's world is never dull! Alongside her husband, she shares her home with two beautiful dogs, a friendly feline companion, and a dynamic 13-year-old child. Each day brings a new adventure.
Gillian's background in natural health and nutrition is an invaluable asset to the team, as she ensures the well-being of everyone in the office. Her commitment to maintaining a healthy and balanced work environment reflects her dedication not only to her clients' events but also to her colleagues' welfare.
With Gillian as your Event Sales Coordinator, your weddings, corporate events, and private parties are in the most capable hands. Her meticulous planning, culinary enthusiasm, and unwavering commitment to excellence ensure that your vision becomes an unforgettable reality.
Job Titles:
- Senior Corporate Sales Coordinator
Hayley Fisher, our Senior Corporate Sales Coordinator at Railtown Catering, brings a wealth of enthusiasm and passion to her role. While she embarked on her hospitality journey officially with us, her culinary inclinations were evident from her entrepreneurial baking venture, a beloved hobby she has been nurturing for years.
For Hayley, her role isn't just a job; it's a fulfilling career that perfectly aligns with her desire to help people while staying busy. She finds joy in working alongside a diverse, passionate team and serving our valued clients, building strong relationships along the way.
Her background as a hobby baker, specializing in crafting beautiful cakes and intricate sugar cookies, grants her a unique perspective on the art of feeding a crowd. This hands-on experience equips her with a deep understanding of the dedication and precision required in the catering world.
What sets Railtown apart, according to Hayley, is not only the delectable food we offer but also the exceptional team spirit. The Railtown team is a close-knit family where everyone takes immense pride in their daily work. Beyond the office, the team's camaraderie extends into their personal lives, a testament to the strong bonds formed at work.
Before joining Railtown, Hayley held administrative and accounting roles with renowned companies like Poshmark, Lush, and Trail Appliances. Her diverse experience in administration and customer service has equipped her with a versatile skill set that she now brings to her role as a Senior Corporate Sales Coordinator.
Outside of work, you'll often find Hayley immersed in dance classes with friends, tapping into the vibrant local dance community. Pasta holds a special place in Hayley's heart and her favorite memories of crafting it in the kitchen with her dad as a child continue to inspire her love for the culinary world.
Hayley's warm personality, culinary understanding, and dedication to her team and clients make her an indispensable part of Railtown Catering's family. With her guidance, your corporate catering needs will be in the most capable and caring hands!
Miyu has held various critical behind-the-scenes roles at Railtown Catering since she started at the company in 2016 and proven herself to be one of the company's most integral members.
Born in Japan, Miyu followed the lead of two older siblings who pursued their education abroad in Eastern Europe, but instead opted to study overseas in Alberta, Canada. After falling in love with the wild nature and culture she experienced while residing in her temporary home away from home, she decided to settle on the West Coast for college and planted her roots.
Accredited in Event Décor and Event & Wedding Planning at QC Event School, Miyu first joined the Railtown Catering family as an operations supervisor and was promoted to the role of operations assistant manager one year later. Since March of 2019, she has held the title of Event Operations Manager, helping to coordinate and execute logistics for a variety of events, liaising between the sales, corporate and culinary teams and providing leadership and support to the entire team.
"Since I have joined Railtown I have experienced so much and been challenged every day and it is truly an honour to be a part of such a hardworking and talented team," she says. "It just feels like home here - I'm so lucky to be able to work alongside them as we work to help our clients achieve their goals and deliver above and beyond their vision."
A seasoned veteran of the hospitality industry, Stefanie Aitken knows that no detail is too small and no request too impossible when it comes to planning and pulling off the perfect party, wedding or special event.
Born and raised in Ontario, Stefanie came to Vancouver in 2007 and quickly fell in love with the mountains, ocean and relaxed atmosphere of the West Coast. After completing her undergraduate degree at UBC, she dove headlong into the catering and events world, working at Vancouver's top catering companies, before joining the Railtown Catering team in early 2019.
At Railtown Catering, Stefanie utilizes her extensive knowledge and talents to provide superior customer service from first point of contact through implementation to help her clients custom-design a wide range of truly memorable events.
"As someone who likes to keep busy and try new things, I really appreciate that catering affords me the opportunity to create unique event experiences again and again. At Railtown, there are so many different avenues we can use to approach food, beverage, and décor. When it comes to events, I love jumping in, bringing an event to life, and be able to exceed the expectations of a client. The wow moment when they walk in makes all the hard work worth it!"
Chef Tyler Day's interest in the culinary world was cultivated at an early age. From time spent picking wild blackberries to make pie with his grandmother, foraging for mushrooms or embarking on weekend fishing trips with his dad, Day quickly learned to appreciate fine food in all its freshest forms.
After graduating from the prestigious Dubrulle Culinary Arts School in Vancouver, Tyler travelled to Oxfordshire, England, where he studied under renowned Chef Raymond Blanc at the Michelin star hotel-restaurant Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons. Tyler then ventured to the Big Apple, working at Michelin star seafood restaurant Oceana in Manhattan before returning to Vancouver and serving as sous chef in such acclaimed, award-winning kitchens as Bistro Pastis, Diva at the Met and CinCin Ristorante + Bar as well as Restaurant Chef at Pearl Bistro & Oyster Bar in White Rock.
In 2012, with 15 years of experience in the kitchen already under his belt, Tyler embarked on a new challenge by partnering with Chef Dan Olson in Railtown Catering and Café and has since focused his career on the company's continued success.
"I've dedicated my life to working and playing in the kitchen," says Tyler. "It's a window into ancient traditions, modern culture and a perfect way to spend time with family and friends. It's always been my dream to start a business that offers food that is both healthy and delectable with an environmentally conscious approach, and at Railtown that dream has taken shape."