VANCOUVER ABORIGINAL FRIENDSHIP CENTRE SOCIETY

Your Event, in the Heart of Community

Celebrate, meet, or play in our beautiful spaces at the Aboriginal Friendship Centre. Whether you need the refined atmosphere of the Chief Simon Baker Room or the expansive flexibility of the Judge Alfred Scow Gymnasium, we have the perfect setting for you. Get in touch to discuss your event vision.

As social enterprise caterers at the heart of the Urban Indigenous community in East Vancouver, we create premiere experiences in Indigenous food and hospitality. Our skilled and passionate team can provide everything from breakfast, lunch, to reception canapés, buffets and plated dinners.

Why we do what we do:

Friendship Catering is a social enterprise company supporting the initiatives of the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society. Our profits go back into providing services for Vancouver’s Urban Indigenous community. When you book with Friendship Catering you receive a premiere culinary experience and invest in changing lives. Our team is also proud to serve over 3,000 nutritious meals every week to local shelters in East Vancouver.

Policies

Payment Terms & Policies

To secure your booking, a 50% deposit of your quoted total is required. The remaining balance is due following the event’s completion.

Accepted Payment Methods:

Square, certified cheque, VISA, Mastercard, or EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer).

Gratuity:

A 15% gratuity is applied to all events & deliveries.

Delivery Policy

A delivery fee applies to all orders. To qualify for delivery, orders must meet a minimum spend of $600 (before tax and gratuity).

Our standard delivery zone includes Burnaby, Vancouver, and the North Shore. For locations outside this area, please contact us for availability.

Weekend deliveries are not currently available.

For order cancellations, we require 3 business days' notice (72 hours).

Final Event Details Deadline – Due 7 Days Prior

To guarantee a smooth event, please provide the following final details no later than 7 days before your event date:

Final Guest Count & Dietaries: A list with each guest's name and corresponding dietary restrictions.

Delivery Logistics: On-site contact person, phone number, delivery address specifics, and loading zone/access instructions.

Requests to increase your guest count or modify dietary or logistical details within the 7-day window cannot be guaranteed but will be accommodated if possible.

Cancellation Policy

All orders are subject to a 72-hour cancellation policy. Any prepayments or deposits will be forfeited if an event is cancelled with less than 72 hours’ notice, unless alternative arrangements have been discussed with your event contact.

Chefs

Head Chef | Heat Laliberte

Déne - Métis Chef Heat Laliberte brings his extensive culinary background and love of feeding the community to Friendship Catering. He has honed his expertise over 20 years working in professional kitchens and attained his Red Seal while being mentored by some of Vancouver’s top chefs. His well-rounded experience ranges from culinary teams at the Fairmont Pacific Rim, the 2016 & 2018 Summer and Winter Olympic Games, and founding the successful artisanal bacon business One Arrow.

Seeking his next endeavour, Heat found his place in East Vancouver at the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre. VAFCS holds a special place in his heart, as he has completed two programs offered to Indigenous peoples at VAFCS: the ACCESS Trades Culinary Apprenticeship Program and the Indigenous Entrepreneurship Program, both of which helped tremendously in forging the stepping stones to success.

With his journey coming full circle, Heat’s passion is to share his cooking experience with the community, highlight traditional Indigenous foods, and propel Friendship Catering into Vancouver’s next top catering company.

Jake Mixon | Executive Chef

Jake Mixon is Cherokee and has been working and volunteering in First Nation bands and organizations since his immigration to Canada in 1999, and became a citizen in 2003. In 2012 he joined the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society’s Friendship Catering as the Executive Chef thus combining his passions of cooking and community service. He brings 40 + years culinary experience across Turtle Island. Jake started his career in cooking at the age of 18 in South Florida and quickly realized it was his vocation. He attended and graduated Walt Disney World’s culinary apprenticeship program and the Culinary Institute of America earning his Journeyman’s Chef credentials in the United States. When Jake immigrated to Canada and fell in love with the vibrant Vancouver food scene. Always seeking to improve Jake earned his Red Seal and a diploma in adult education. Jake has worked as Executive Chef at The Vancouver Aquarium, Wine educator at Mission Hills Vineyard, and other high-end hospitality operations across British Columbia.

Friendship Catering