As Vice President-Western Canada of Restaurants Canada, Mark von Schellwitz combined two of his passions – the hospitality industry and public affairs. His involvement in the hospitality industry came at a young age as his family built, owned and operated, a small resort hotel on Vancouver Island after moving to BC from Alberta where Mark was born and raised. While obtaining his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at the University of British Columbia, Mark helped support his education by working part time at various Vancouver restaurants. In 1985, Mark completed his degree and his interest in Canadian politics took him to Ottawa, where he became an Assistant to the Honourable Pat Carney in two portfolios, Minister of Energy Mines and Resources and International Trade. In 1988, he returned to Vancouver and worked as the BC Regional Assistant to the Minister of Western Economic Diversification. In 1991, Mark moved to Vancouver Island to manage the family’s resort hotel for the next five years. During that time, he successfully expanded the business to include a new neighbourhood pub. In 1997, Mark returned to Vancouver and accepted a government affairs manager position with Canada’s largest hospitality industry association, the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association. In 2001, Mark was appointed the association’s Vice President for Western Canada. In 2014 the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association rebranded and is now known as Restaurants Canada. Mark’s work on numerous public policy issues in BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan over the years has helped association members in the challenging foodservices industry grow and prosper. Mark continues to be a strong advocate for the hospitality industry and represents the industry on numerous small business and tourism related organization boards and committees. Mark is past Chairman of the Coalition of BC Businesses and of Go2 (BC’s resource for people in tourism).