October is shaping up to be a busy month for B.C.’s hospitality industry — and for operators looking to grow, connect and stay ahead, that’s a good thing.

For restaurant owners, brewers, bar operators, suppliers and hospitality professionals, industry events are about more than a few hours away from the day-to-day grind. The right room can lead to a new supplier relationship, a fresh operational idea, a marketing opportunity, or a conversation that turns into business months down the road.

This October, two B.C. events stand out as particularly useful opportunities to get out, meet the people shaping the industry, and strengthen your network: BCBeerCon 2026 and the BCRFA Hall of Fame Gala.

Here’s why they belong on your October business calendar.

1. BC Craft Brewers Conference | October 15-16

Anvil Centre, New Westminster

If you work anywhere within B.C.’s craft beer, beverage alcohol or hospitality ecosystem, BCBeerCon 2026 is an opportunity to put industry connections front and centre.

Taking place October 15 and 16 at New Westminster’s Anvil Centre, the BC Craft Brewers Conference brings together brewing industry stakeholders for education, industry updates, networking and a trade show featuring 50+ vendors.

But the real value for an operator may be what happens between the sessions.

Build supplier relationships

The trade show creates an opportunity to speak directly with suppliers and service providers in B.C.’s hospitality industry rather than simply browsing websites or sending another cold email.

Whether you are looking at:

• Brewing equipment and ingredients
• Packaging and distribution
• Marketing and branding
• Technology
• Hospitality solutions
• Operational efficiencies
• Food and taproom programs
• Sales and commercialization

…the conference provides a chance to ask questions, compare solutions, and start relationships face-to-face.

For growing businesses, supplier relationships can become strategic relationships. The right connection today may become a preferred vendor, collaborative partner, or valuable industry resource tomorrow.

Learn beyond the bar

The 2026 conference programming spans areas including brewing and production, commercialization, sales and marketing, hospitality and taproom experiences, and business operations.

That makes it relevant not only to brewers, but to hospitality businesses thinking about the bigger picture.

How can you improve your customer experience?

Where are you losing efficiency?

Could your marketing be working harder?

Are there new ways to generate revenue?

These are the kinds of questions that can turn an industry conference from an expense into a business-development opportunity.

Don’t just attend. Work the room.

Before you arrive, identify three things you want to accomplish.

Maybe it’s:

1. Meet two potential suppliers.
2. Find one idea you can implement before the end of the year.
3. Connect with five people outside your existing network.

That gives your attendance a purpose — and makes it much easier to measure whether the event delivered value.

And don’t underestimate the BC Beer Awards, taking place October 16 as part of BC Craft Beer Month. It offers another opportunity to celebrate the province’s brewing community and connect with people across the sector.

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2. BCRFA Hall of Fame Gala | October 19

Italian Cultural Centre, Vancouver

Three days later, the hospitality community has another opportunity to come together.

The 2026 BC Restaurant Hall of Fame takes place Monday, October 19 at Vancouver’s Italian Cultural Centre. The event, an initiative of the British Columbia Restaurant and Foodservices Association, celebrates the people and restaurants that have contributed to B.C.’s restaurant industry.

This is a different kind of networking opportunity, and one that’s especially meaningful to us at Rising Tide. In 2023, our President and Founder, Bert Hick, was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a Friend of the Industry, in recognition of his 40 years of contributions to the industry, including his time as General Manager of the Liquor Branch. 

BCBeerCon is heavily focused on education, suppliers, and industry development. The Hall of Fame Gala is about community, recognition, and relationships.

And those relationships matter.

Put faces to names

Hospitality is a relationship-driven industry.

The person sitting beside you at dinner could be:

• A restaurant owner facing the same challenges you are
• A potential supplier
• A future business partner
• A hospitality professional with an entirely different perspective
• Someone who knows the person you need to meet next

The BCRFA says the 2026 event will bring together 400+ B.C. restaurant and foodservice leaders, making it a substantial opportunity to connect with people from across the sector.

Celebrate the industry you’re building

Networking doesn’t always have to start with a business pitch.

Sometimes the strongest relationships begin with simply sharing a table, talking about the industry and celebrating the people doing interesting things within it.

The Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose contributions span B.C.’s restaurant and foodservice community, making the evening an opportunity to learn more about the people and businesses shaping the sector.

This broader perspective can be valuable for operators considering where their business fits within B.C.’s evolving hospitality landscape.

How to Get More From Your October Networking

Showing up is only half the job.

If you’re going to invest the time and money to attend industry events, treat them as part of your business-development strategy.

1. Set a networking goal

Don’t aim to “meet everyone.”

Aim to have five meaningful conversations.

Quality relationships are more valuable than collecting a pocketful of business cards.

2. Know your elevator pitch

You should be able to explain what you do, who you serve, and what you’re currently working toward in a few sentences.

Keep it conversational. Networking should feel like a conversation, not a sales presentation.

3. Ask better questions

Instead of:

“What do you do?”

Try:

“What are you seeing change in the industry right now?”

Or:

“What’s been the biggest challenge for your business this year?”

Those questions can lead to much more useful conversations.

4. Follow up

This is where networking becomes business development.

Connect on LinkedIn. Send the email. Make the introduction. Schedule the coffee.

A great conversation that ends when you walk out the door is just a conversation.

A follow-up can become a relationship.

5. Bring something to the table

The best networking isn’t about asking, “What can this person do for me?”

It’s also asking:

“What can I bring to this relationship?”

An introduction, useful resource, supplier recommendation, collaboration idea or even a simple follow-up can create goodwill that lasts well beyond the event.

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The Bigger Opportunity

B.C.’s hospitality industry is constantly evolving.

Consumer expectations are shifting. Technology is changing how businesses operate and market themselves. Supplier relationships are becoming increasingly important. And operators are continually looking for ways to improve margins while creating experiences that keep customers coming back.

You don’t have to figure all of that out alone.

Get in the room.

Talk to the people working through the same challenges. Meet the suppliers building new solutions. Listen to the operators who are experimenting with new ideas. Celebrate the businesses that are moving the industry forward.

Because sometimes the next opportunity isn’t sitting in your inbox.

It’s sitting at the table beside you.

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Rising Tide’s Takeaway for B.C.’s Hospitality Industry

For B.C. hospitality businesses, October offers two very different opportunities to learn, connect and build relationships.

October 15–16: Head to New Westminster for BCBeerCon and explore education, suppliers and practical ideas for growing your operation.

October 19: Join the BCRFA community in Vancouver for the Hall of Fame Gala and connect with the people behind B.C.’s restaurant and foodservice industry.

Bring your business cards, come prepared with questions, and keep an open mind.

And most importantly, bring your curiosity.

You never know where the next great business relationship will begin.

The recent BCGEU strike has made it clear that B.C.’s liquor distribution system needs major reform. While government liquor store employees have the right to strike, the LDB’s warehousing and distribution operations are essential to the province’s hospitality industry and should always be treated as such. Just as Dr. Bonnie Henry declared during COVID.

Hotels, restaurants, pubs, and event venues depend on this system yet are left stranded during labour disputes they aren’t part of. A first step would be amending Section 8 of the Liquor Control & Licensing Act to allow licensees to buy from private stores during strikes. When LDB staff return, they’ll also face an even greater backlog on top of the delays that already existed.

Liquor Service until 4:00 AM – Vancouver Leads the Way

On July 21, 2025, Vancouver City Council made a landmark decision that will redefine the downtown experience: LIQUOR SERVICE CAN NOW EXTEND TO 4:00 AM, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK!

This unanimous vote, highlighted by CBC News, opens doors for hospitality businesses to apply for extended hours, putting Vancouver on the map as THE Canadian destination for nightlife, tourism, and international events.

What this means for you:

• Licensees in the downtown core may soon apply for extended liquor licenses with extended service hours
• Greater flexibility for patrons and event organizers, as well as increased support for local businesses. Extended hours mean more flexibility and revenue for operators, especially as the city gears up for events like FIFA 2026
• Boosts Tourism & Hospitality – with over 1200 establishments in the downtown core already licensed, Vancouver is poised to become Canada’s PREMIER destination for nightlife and late night dining
• Reduces congestion and enhances safety; staggered closing times help ease the 2:00 AM crowd surge, improving transportation flow and reducing neighbourhood disturbances

Whether you are a cocktail connoisseur, a dancefloor devotee, or just looking for a vibrant place to connect, Vancouver is setting the stage for unforgettable nights!

At Rising Tide Consultants (RTC), we see this as a pivotal moment for the hospitality and tourism sectors. Our experienced team is ready to help operators navigate this transition and position their businesses for ongoing success under the new bylaw.

Whether you are updating your existing liquor license, applying for extended service, or seeking compliance strategies, Rising Tide Consultants is here to help you rise to the occasion.

Let’s raise a glass to a city that knows how to keep the party going!

As of July 15, 2024, there will be restrictions on certain plastics through B.C.’s Single-Use and Plastic Waste Prevention Regulation.

The current Liquor Primary Licence Terms and Conditions and Liquor Policy Manual require stadiums to serve liquor in disposable containers (e.g., plastic or paper) to ensure the safety of spectators. This change will require stadiums to comply with B.C.’s Single-Use and Plastic Waste Prevention Regulation when using plastic containers for serving liquor in stadiums.

Resources For More Information:

Food Service Ware Factsheet
Use of Plastic Containers in Stadiums

Questions? Contact us – we are here to help!

Contact Rising Tide

The recent report by Pacific Solutions Contracting commissioned by the British Columbia Restaurant & Food Services Association and the BC Coalition for Affordable Dependable Energy shows that the cost could be upwards of $800,000 for an existing restaurant to convert to electricity from natural gas. This number includes all aspects of the process from hiring the experts required, new equipment, renovations, and installations, plus the revenue lost during the business interruption while all that is taking place.

The BCRFA is asking municipal governments to take this evaluation seriously and put the brakes on the zero carbon step code regulations that would ban the use of natural gas in new buildings ahead of provincial 2030 targets. Not only does this seriously question the economic impact on restaurants, but the feasibility of the proposal itself. Restaurants in 2024 do not have $800K sitting around in the bank; quite the opposite in fact.

Rising Tide Consultants support our friends at the BCRFA, calling for a common-sense approach to energy which includes electricity, natural gas and renewable natural gas.

Read more here

Big Win For BC Hospitality Industry

On the heels of the highly successful Save BC Restaurants campaign, the call for a designated single point of contact within government for the hospitality industry has now been answered.

Lana Popham has been appointed as the designated Provincial cabinet liaison for the hospitality sector. Having to engage with numerous ministries and government agencies in the past, restaurants and other stakeholders in the hospitality sector have faced significant challenges in addressing legislative and regulatory concerns. Now with a designated point person within government, the communication will be streamlined to one individual who will have a complete picture of all industry challenges.\

Good News For Brewery Lounges

We were very pleased to see that the City of Vancouver Council approved to not enforce the Zoning and Development By-law maximum floor area restrictions for Brewery lounges for the next two years. This is another step in the right direction for the support of growth and deregulation for Vancouver. Rising Tide Consultants is proud to be a member of the Hospitality Sector Working Group collaborating with the council on these important changes!

Client Spotlight

Congratulations to our esteemed clients of the Toptable Restaurant Group. It has our pleasure to work with you on your liquor licensing over the years. Marilena of Victoria has claimed the #1 spot in Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants! Elisa has earned Gold for Vancouver Magazine’s Best Steakhouse!

Federal Health Minister Listens To BC Craft Cannabis Farmers

The federal Minister of Health has agreed with the proposal from BC craft cannabis farmers to lift unfair production and processing limits on craft farmers, micro-processors and nurseries, by proposing to increase the amount of cannabis that can be cultivated and/or processed by craft farmers and micro-processors by a factor of four.

Read more here

New Regulations For Gig Workers – Workers Could See A Rise In Costs And A Decline In Business

On June 12, 2024, the government of BC announced regulations to provide fairness, minimum-wage measures and basic protections for app-based ride-hailing and delivery workers in British Columbia. The regulations, a first in Canada, will come into effect on Sept. 3, 2024. They will apply to those who work for apps such as Uber, Lyft, Uber Eats, SkiptheDishes, DoorDash and others.

The regulations address the top concerns raised by workers, including:

• Low and unpredictable pay: The regulation sets a minimum wage for engaged time, and a minimum per-kilometre vehicle allowance to compensate workers for their vehicle expenses.
• Lack of workers compensation: All ride-hailing and delivery workers will be covered through WorkSafeBC.
• Lack of transparency: Companies must allow workers to see the locations and
• estimated pay associated with a job before workers accept it.
• Unfair deactivations and suspension: Companies must tell workers why they are being suspended or terminated. If they are terminated without cause, they must be given notice or compensation.
• Tip protection: Companies must pay 100% of tips provided by the customer to the worker.

Bridgitte Anderson, President and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, has issued the following statement: “Companies in B.C. already contend with some of the highest costs and strictest regulatory and tax environments in North America. We are concerned that the new regulations will impose additional burdens and reduce flexibility, inevitably leading to even higher costs for transportation and food delivery services. These new regulations also risk resulting in less work for ride-hailing and food delivery workers and ultimately lower overall wages…”

Questions? Contact us – We are here to help!

If you need advice or guidance with your licensing challenges or business operations, get in
touch with us. We are here to help!

Contact Rising Tide

On June 12, 2024, the government of BC announced regulations to provide fairness, minimum-wage measures and basic protections for app-based ride-hailing and delivery workers in British Columbia. The regulations, a first in Canada, will come into effect on Sept. 3, 2024. They will apply to those who work for apps such as Uber, Lyft, Uber Eats, SkiptheDishes, DoorDash and others.

The regulations address the top concerns raised by workers, including:

• Low and unpredictable pay: The regulation sets a minimum wage for engaged time, and a minimum per-kilometre vehicle allowance to compensate workers for their vehicle expenses.

• Lack of workers compensation: All ride-hailing and delivery workers will be covered through WorkSafeBC.

• Lack of transparency: Companies must allow workers to see the locations and estimated pay associated with a job before workers accept it.

• Unfair deactivations and suspension: Companies must tell workers why they are being suspended or terminated. If they are terminated without cause, they must be given notice or compensation.

• Tip protection: Companies must pay 100% of tips provided by the customer to the worker.

Bridgitte Anderson, President and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, has issued the following statement: “Companies in B.C. already contend with some of the highest costs and strictest regulatory and tax environments in North America. We are concerned that the new regulations will impose additional burdens and reduce flexibility, inevitably leading to even higher costs for transportation and food delivery services.  These new regulations also risk resulting in less work for ride-hailing and food delivery workers and ultimately lower overall wages…”

Read Article Here

On the heels of the highly successful ‘Save BC Restaurants’ campaign, the call for a designated single point of contact within government for the hospitality industry has now been answered.

On June 4, 2024, Lana Popham was appointed as the designated Provincial cabinet liaison for the hospitality sector.

“Restaurants are such an important part of the fabric of our communities and our local economies, and we know the last few years have been tough on the industry,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “I am excited to be the point person into government for the BC Restaurants & Foodservices Association and Restaurants Canada to make it easier for the industry to access the support it needs.”

Having to engage with numerous ministries and government agencies in the past, restaurants and other stakeholders in the hospitality sector have faced significant challenges in addressing legislative and regulatory concerns. Now with a designated point person within government, the communication will be streamlined to one individual who will have a complete picture of all industry challenges. 

“We’re incredibly excited to work with Minister Popham,” said BCRFA President & CEO Ian Tostenson. “The Province has always been willing to listen to our concerns and work with restaurants to implement sensible changes – with today’s announcement, we’re looking forward to doing even more.”

This appointment builds on additional supports provided by government such as the Securing Small Business Rebate program, the cap on food delivery fees, providing more time to make temporary patios permanent, and wholesale liquor pricing saving food service businesses $244.9 million to date. In addition, government doubled the exemption threshold for the Employer Health Tax from $500,000 to $1M and prorated the tax for businesses with between $1 million – $1.5 million in payroll so now 90% of businesses will be exempt from the EHT.

We at Rising Tide Consultants are very pleased to see the positive steps in the right direction for our hospitality industry that has struggled very hard ever since the pandemic. Slowly, but surely, we are seeing things turn around for BC restaurants. 

The recent report by @pacificsolutionscontracting commissioned by the @bcrfa and the BC Coalition for Affordable Dependable Energy, shows that the cost could be upwards of $800,000 for an existing restaurant to convert to electricity from natural gas. This number includes all aspects of the process from hiring the experts required, new equipment, renovations, and installations, plus the revenue lost during the business interruption while all that is taking place.

The BCRFA is asking municipal governments to take this evaluation seriously and put the brakes on the zero carbon step code regulations that would ban the use of natural gas in new buildings ahead of provincial 2030 targets. Not only does this seriously question the economic impact on restaurants, but the feasibility of the proposal itself. Restaurants in 2024 do not have $800K sitting around in the bank; quite the opposite in fact. 

Rising Tide Consultants support our friends at the BCRFA, calling for a common-sense approach to energy which includes electricity, natural gas and renewable natural gas. 

For the full article: https://www.biv.com/news/hospitality-marketing-tourism/bc-restaurants-could-not-afford-natural-gas-ban-report-8892145

The Honourable Brenda Bailey – Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, speaks on the SAVE BC RESTAURANTS campaign:

“The first thing I want to say about the restaurant sector and their save B.C. restaurants campaign is: “Well done.” I think it was one of the most inventive campaigns that I’ve seen. The communications were very strong. I congratulate the restaurant sector for really quite a well-designed and engaging campaign.“

“Another request that the restaurant sector put in front of us was they had the experience that they had to go to a number of different ministers and lobby each individually on particular challenges that they were experiencing. They identified that it would be much better for them should they just have one contact. And so that’s something that we have put in place. That contact is Minister Popham. “

“The Solicitor General, the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture and myself will be working together on challenges that the restaurants faced, but it is the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture who is the number one contact. Then the information will share out that way.”

“But I do just want to really highlight that in addition to the many supports we put in place throughout the pandemic and since the number one request, the most important thing — and the restaurant sector really drove this home — was to change the EHT. I’m so grateful that we were able to do that for them.“

The EHT (Employer Health Tax) payroll threshold will be moved from 1/2 million to 1 million which will exempt a lot of small businesses from having to pay this tax. A very positive win for Industry!

This is a Crisis.

The Restaurant Industry is facing countless challenges and the BCRFA and Restaurants Canada have come together to show the Government that when you stack challenge after challenge, cost increase after cost increase, over debilitating debt from loans, the picture is a serious one and not easy to read.

“The Menu” below is being introduced to Government bodies, the press and the public on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, with the hopes that seeing everything that Restaurants face in one intense document will help people understand the severity of what Restaurants are going through.

It is our hope that “The Menu” will show the truth of the crushing impacts of what Restaurants deal with on a daily basis and encourage real support and understanding from our Government so that change will be imminent.