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Join us for a coffee and chat with Renowned Indigenous Chef Shane Chartrand, owner of PAPERBIRCH. From growing up on a farm outside Red Deer to competing on the national stage of Top Chef Canada, Shane’s journey is a masterclass in using doubt as fuel to build a world-class career.

Shane’s love for cooking began at a Red Deer truck stop, where he realized food could truly change someone’s day. After honing his craft at NAIT, he earned his Red Seal, a designation he views as vital to the culinary profession. As a member of the Enoch Cree Nation, Shane shares how he navigated the industry and traveled across North America to hone his skills before opening his own café, PAPERBIRCH, in the Old Strathcona Market.

Shane also pulls back the curtain on his extensive career and the "unfiltered" reality of appearing on major television shows, including Chopped, Iron Chef Canada, and Top Chef Canada (Season 11 & 12). He explains the complexity of managing a "kitchen within a kitchen" and the logistics of multi-floor culinary operations. We also dive into the three-year journey to publish his acclaimed cookbook, tawâw: Progressive Indigenous Cuisine—a title meaning "Come in, you’re welcome"—which was inspired by Myrna Petersen and co-authored with Jennifer Cockrall-King.

"I knew I could change someone's life or make their day through food."

Experience Shane’s vision firsthand at PAPERBIRCH in the Old Strathcona Market, where he brings his culinary expertise and love for community together.

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