LISE HINES

What brought you to Centennial College?

After high school, I knew I was most interested in the tourism industry as a career path. The co-op component at Centennial helped make that decision easier, because it offered practical experience, not just classroom learning.

Tell us about your favourite Centennial College experience?

While I didn’t follow a food and beverage path directly, I appreciated the restaurant setting that gave us the opportunity to experience various hospitality roles in a real-life environment. My favourite class was Mixology. I’m still known as the master mixologist among my friends, and I attribute that to the basics I learned in that class.

What impact has Centennial College had on your life?

Because of the co-op program, I was able to work at the Banff Springs Hotel. It was during my time there that I fell in love with the mountains. That experience played a significant role in my decision to move to the West Coast a few years later.

What are you up to now?

I have built Chew On This Tasty Tours, a culinary tourism business in British Columbia that connects guests with local restaurants, chefs, farmers, makers, and the stories behind a place. Our experiences are small, hosted, and community-based, with a focus on helping visitors discover the people and businesses that give each community its character.

Since launching, I’ve had the opportunity to work with partners across several BC communities, and to showcase the kind of hospitality that first drew me to tourism: Personal, generous, and rooted in place.

Current city of residence

Pitt Meadows, BC