Supporting 15,000 restaurants, 185,000 employees, and an industry contributing $18 billion to the economy
BCRFA is your first call when challenges arise. Between our on-call HR expert, Gillian MacGregor, and our connections throughout BC, we want to remove obstacles. Here are ways we have supported our community.
Discover how our work is making a real difference in the restaurant industry. Our case studies highlight the tangible results of our advocacy on behalf of B.C.’s restaurant and foodservice industry. From overturning costly regulatory decisions to securing lifelines during the pandemic and protecting legacy businesses, each case demonstrates how the BCRFA stands up for operators when it matters most. These stories aren’t just wins, they’re proof of what a strong, unified industry voice can achieve.
CASE STUDY
When Shaughnessy Restaurant faced losing its lease despite strong community support and post-pandemic recovery, the BCRFA stepped in. We brought a critical industry voice to City Council, highlighting the cultural and emotional significance of the restaurant. Our advocacy helped overturn the Parks Board’s recommendation, securing the lease for the long-standing operators and preserving a valued local institution.
Saving Shaughnessy: A Fight to Preserve a Local Legend
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After decades as a beloved part of Vancouver’s culinary and community landscape, Shaughnessy Restaurant was suddenly at risk of losing its lease.
The Parks Board initiated a re-tendering process, opening the space to new bids, despite Shaughnessy's strong pandemic recovery and long-standing local support.
With only two proposals submitted, one from the restaurant’s current operators and one from a new group, Parks staff recommended a shift to the new operator. The selection process focused heavily on technical, financial, and environmental criteria, ignoring the emotional and cultural importance of the business to the community.
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The BCRFA stepped in. Our President & CEO, Ian Tostenson, attended the Vancouver City Council meeting where the lease decision was being reviewed.
Ian delivered two key points:
Risk of Transition: In the current economic climate, changing operators at a long-established restaurant carries significant risk; financial failure is more likely than success.
The Missing Piece: The City’s evaluation missed an essential factor, the emotional and community value of the restaurant. Numbers matter, but so does legacy.
Ian’s remarks brought a much-needed human and industry-centered perspective to the conversation.
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City Council ultimately rejected the Parks Board’s recommendation to award the lease to the new operator. Several councillors referenced Ian’s comments directly during the discussion, reinforcing the power and influence of the BCRFA’s advocacy.
Thanks to our involvement, the current owners of Shaughnessy Restaurant were able to retain their lease and continue serving their community.
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This case illustrates the real-world impact of industry advocacy. It’s not just about policy; it’s about protecting businesses that matter.
Shaughnessy Restaurant isn’t just a business; it’s a community institution.
The BCRFA ensured that decision-makers understood that emotional and cultural value must be considered alongside financial metrics.
Without our intervention, a successful, legacy business might have been forced to shut down.
"Ian, thank you so much. Your voice carried a lot of weight. Several councillors quoted you. We are lucky to have your support."
Chris Chatten, Shaughnessy Restaurant
CASE STUDY
Fighting for Fairness: Standing with an Icon
When a Vancouver restaurant was hit with a surprise $25,000 upgrade requirement during a minor kitchen change, the BCRFA stepped in and reached out to our contacts in the municipal office. By challenging the decision and reinforcing existing agreements, we helped avoid an unnecessary financial burden, ensuring fair, common-sense application of regulations.
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A well-known Vancouver restaurant faced an unexpected and costly requirement during a minor kitchen sink modification. Metro Vancouver informed the operator that they would need to install a new grease interceptor, an upgrade that would cost approximately $25,000.
The request appeared excessive, especially given the scale of the kitchen change, and risked setting an unreasonable precedent for others in the industry.
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The BCRFA stepped in to advocate on behalf of the restaurant. Metro Vancouver initially justified the requirement by characterizing the business as a large chain with the resources to absorb the cost.
We challenged that assumption, pointing out that even established restaurants operate on thin margins, and that financial capacity should not dictate regulatory enforcement.
More importantly, we reminded Metro Vancouver of the existing agreement: grease interceptors are only required in the case of a substantial kitchen upgrade or when an existing interceptor is proven to be inefficient. Neither condition applied in this case.
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Following our advocacy, Metro Vancouver reversed its decision.
Rather than requiring a costly new installation, the restaurant was only asked to ensure the regular maintenance of its current grease management system.
The business avoided an unnecessary financial burden, and no broader regulatory precedent was set.
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This case highlights the importance of fair, proportionate regulation, especially in an industry where even minor, unexpected costs can have serious financial consequences.
It also demonstrates the BCRFA’s role in holding regulatory bodies accountable to existing agreements and advocating for solutions that are both practical and equitable.
CASE STUDY
A well-known restaurant group in Vancouver received an unexpected notice from the City that a large patio that had been in use for over five years was non-compliant and would need to be removed. Faced with potential legal action and costly demolition fees, the business turned to BCRFA for support. With time and revenue on the line, BCRFA began working with City officials to find a more balanced, common-sense solution that could protect the operator’s investment and avoid unnecessary disruption.
Demolition Dodged: BCRFA Helps Restaurant Preserve Patio and Avoid Legal Costs
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The City of Vancouver informed the restaurant that its patio was “out of spec” and would need to be demolished. Despite its long-standing use and role in the restaurant’s business model, legal proceedings were initiated, and the restaurant faced six-figure expenses in demolition and legal fees.
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BCRFA met directly with officials at City Hall to advocate for a fair and balanced resolution. We proposed that the City suspend legal action and instead work with the operator to find a common-sense path forward. BCRFA supported the restaurant through the Board of Variance process and helped broker a collaborative dialogue between all parties.
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With BCRFA's advocacy, the matter was brought before the Board of Variance. After careful review, the Board sided with the operator. The City withdrew its legal action, demolition was avoided, and the patio remained fully operational.
The restaurant group avoided an estimated six-figure expense, preserving not only a key part of their business but also an important community space.
The case underscored the value of proactive, collaborative engagement with municipal stakeholders.
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This case highlights the power of advocacy in protecting viable, community-serving businesses from unnecessary red tape.
BCRFA’s intervention ensured a practical outcome, saving both a patio and a business model, and set a precedent for cooperative problem-solving with municipal decision-makers.
CASE STUDY
A small, independent coffee shop in B.C. was hit with an urgent demand to repay its CEBA loan in full, a financial burden they weren’t prepared for. The repayment terms posed an immediate threat to their cash flow and long-term viability. Unsure of where to turn, the operator reached out to BCRFA. Working behind the scenes with financial institutions and stakeholders, BCRFA stepped in to explore solutions that could keep the business afloat and give the owner some breathing room.
CEBA Crisis Averted: Flexible Repayment Saves Local Coffee Shop from Closure
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Like many foodservice businesses, the coffee shop had relied on CEBA support during the pandemic.
When the repayment timelines shifted, the operator was unexpectedly told to repay the full amount immediately. The lack of flexibility risked cash flow collapse and potential closure.
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BCRFA worked directly with the coffee shop’s bank to negotiate a structured, time-based repayment plan.
We emphasized the broader impact of small foodservice closures on local economies and advocated for the business’s continued operation as a vital community hub.
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BCRFA successfully negotiated a revised repayment structure with the operator’s bank, shifting from an immediate lump-sum repayment to a manageable, phased schedule.
This provided the operator with much-needed breathing room, allowing them to stabilize operations and continue serving their community.
The resolution not only protected a valued local business but also highlighted the importance of flexible financial solutions for small operators still recovering from pandemic-era challenges.
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Access to flexible financial solutions can make or break small hospitality businesses.
This case shows how BCRFA’s advocacy helps protect operators during uncertain economic times, allowing them to remain open, retain staff, and continue serving their communities.
CASE STUDY
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A local brewery was facing aggressive enforcement action from the provincial government over a significant outstanding sales tax balance.
Government auditors arrived on-site with the intent to seize equipment. This action took place during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, threatening not just the business but also its workers and the broader hospitality community.
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We advised the business owner to secure the premises to prevent equipment seizure and engaged senior government officials through the BCRFA.
We emphasized the inappropriateness of pursuing enforcement during the ongoing pandemic and offered to escalate the issue to the media, prompting immediate reconsideration by the authorities.
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As a result of our intervention, enforcement action was paused and auditors exited the premises, allowing the business to remain open and operational.
A manageable repayment plan was negotiated with the government, avoiding further disruption. While no media scandal ultimately occurred, the potential for reputational damage played a key role in reaching a resolution.
In the end, the business’s reputation and assets were fully preserved.
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This case highlights the critical role of timely advocacy in protecting small businesses, especially during times of crisis.
It underscores how industry associations can provide not only strategic advice but also meaningful political leverage.
The case also illustrates the importance of proportional and empathetic enforcement by the government during public emergencies.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a local brewery faced sudden and aggressive enforcement action from the provincial government over outstanding taxes, putting the business, its staff, and its future at serious risk. The BCRFA stepped in quickly, offering strategic guidance and engaging directly with senior officials to advocate for a fair and reasonable resolution.
Brewing Justice: Fighting for Fairness in a Tax Dispute
CASE STUDY
When pandemic restrictions forced restaurant closures, outdated liquor laws prevented crucial alcohol sales. The BCRFA acted within 48 hours, successfully advocating for a policy change that allowed licensed establishments to deliver alcohol with food. The swift regulatory shift helped hundreds of businesses generate revenue, retain staff, and stay open, setting a precedent for responsive, modern regulation.
Delivering Relief: Fast-Tracking Liquor Sales in a Time of Crisis
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When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, restaurants and bars across British Columbia were forced to close their dining rooms with little notice. One major consequence: the inability to sell liquor, a significant portion of revenue for many operators, due to outdated regulations that prohibited home delivery of alcohol.
With no liquor sales allowed and no foot traffic, foodservice businesses faced immediate and devastating revenue losses.
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The BCRFA acted quickly. Within 48 hours, we engaged directly with government officials to address the issue and advocate for a common-sense solution.
Our ask: allow licensed establishments to deliver alcohol alongside food orders, as a temporary relief measure to help restaurants stay afloat during lockdowns.
Through strategic advocacy and urgent collaboration with policy-makers, we successfully helped bring about a regulatory change that allowed home delivery of liquor from licensed establishments.
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The change was approved within days. Metro Vancouver and surrounding jurisdictions adopted the relaxed regulation, with the only requirement being that participating establishments maintain a standard of responsibility and compliance.
This fast-tracked policy shift allowed hundreds of restaurants and bars to generate critical revenue during the shutdown, helping keep staff employed and businesses open.
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This case highlights the BCRFA’s role as a rapid-response advocate for the foodservice industry. We don’t just talk, we act. When a crisis arises, our team is in the room, working to remove barriers and get tangible results for members.
This win helped establish a new precedent: that flexible, modern regulation can and should support the success of local businesses, especially in times of crisis.
"This single change helped us stay alive during lockdown. Without liquor delivery, we wouldn’t have made it."
Jim Romer, Romers