Meet Our Instructors

Michael Allemeier

Chef Instructor, Culinary programs

Chef Michael Allemeier has travelled the world and Canada learning his craft. Prior to joining SAIT as a Culinary Instructor, Chef Allemeier ran some of Western Canada's most exciting kitchens. One of his highest-profile meals was cooking for Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin during their Vancouver Summit Meeting. His career has received many awards and accolades, the most notable occurring while he was Executive Winery Chef at Mission Hill Family Estate, where he was awarded the honour of leading one of the "Top Five Winery Restaurants in the World" by Travel and Leisure Magazine. As a proven communicator and charismatic personality, he has had many opportunities to be on television and is also a published author. Chef Allemeier completed his CMC (Certified Master Chef) in June 2017, becoming Canada's third Chef to achieve this designation.

Fast facts about Chef Allemeier

• Michael Allemeier was born in Johannesburg, South Africa
• Certified Master Chef Designation. Third Chef in Canada to achieve this designation – 2017
• Cooked for Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin Vancouver Summit – April 1993
• Michael set up The Taste of Canada promotion at The Royal Garden Hotel in London, England
• Host of Cook Like a Chef on the Food Network Canada – 2000 – 2003
• Travel and Leisure Magazine – One of the Top Five Winery Restaurants in the World, Mission Hill Winery – 2008

Mona James

Instructor, Hospitality and Tourism Management

Mona James has spent more than 17 years preparing students for a future in the travel and tourism industry as an instructor and internship coordinator for the School of Hospitality and Tourism. Teaching all levels — from fresh, first-year students to seasoned, bachelor degree pupils — James shares her passion and expertise in areas such as global tourism, hotel front office operations marketing and revenue management, drawing on her robust education, as well as experience working in the industry.

Andrew Hewson

Chef Instructor, Culinary programs

Andrew Hewson has been a chef for 25 years in Vancouver, New York, England, Philadelphia and Calgary. Chef Hewson is the 2010/11 recipient of the Cadmus Foundation Trades Teaching Chair, which provides an instructor the time and resources to pursue a research project that will promote the trades. His project was centred on a term called Culinary Agro Literacy. This is the connection of Culinary Arts/Hospitality training, Agriculture and Foodservice sustainability. Chef Hewson strongly believes that our future foodservice leaders not only need a solid foundation in the skills of their trade, but also in sustainability issues that face the industry. To that end, he has led a project to build a large culinary garden (Jackson Henuset Memorial Culinary Garden) as part of the school. This outdoor classroom and demonstration site gives students the opportunity to plant, grow, harvest and cook their ingredients.

Fast facts about Chef Hewson:

• Dubrelle French Culinary School – Professional Cooking Diploma
• Certified Chef de Cuisine, SAIT/CCF (Canadian Culinary Federation)
• Sous Chef at Tylney Hall, Southwest of London
• Chef de Cuisine at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée, New York City
• Opened Catch with Chef Michael Noble, Calgary

Rosalyn Ediger

Chef Instructor, Culinary programs

Chef Rosalyn Ediger competed in local, national and international competitions with successes in Singapore and Hong Kong. She completed a stage at Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's in London, was the Chef de Cuisine at the Canadian Embassy in China and became part of the opening team for Four Seasons Hotel Beijing. Back in Canada, she combined the art of diplomacy through food and hospitality in her new position at Global Affairs Canada. This role also allowed her to travel to Davos, Switzerland to cook for the Canada reception hosted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the World Economic Forum. Also, while in Ottawa, Rosalyn held the role of Chef de Cuisine at the Royal Danish Embassy which later took her to Copenhagen for further training. She is the current 2019-2020 Cadmus Trades Teaching Chair.

Fast facts about Chef Ediger:

• Canadian Red Seal Certification, SAIT
• Gold and bronze medals at FHA Singapore – 2006
• Chef de Cuisine at the Canadian Embassy, China, the beginning of culinary diplomacy for her
• Chef de Cuisine at Four Seasons Beijing, opening team. As the only female manager in the entire kitchen brigade, she took it upon herself to lead the way for young female Chinese chefs
• Sous Chef at Global Affairs Canada, and Chef de Cuisine at Royal Danish Embassy, Ottawa, Canada

Madeleine MacDonald

Instructor

Throughout her career, Madeleine MacDonald has worked to improve the hospitality industry from within. Along with organizing and competing in Speed Rack, an all-female cocktail competition raising funds for breast cancer research, she serves on the board of directors for the non-profit Bartenders Benevolent Fund, which helps hospitality workers with emergency financial needs. In 2017, she helped organize Cocktails and Consent, working with Calgary’s Centre for Sexuality to train industry workers to recognize sexual harassment and violence in the workplace and intervene as a bystander witnessing it. She recently made this training available for students and is working to have it added to the curriculum. A one-time cook and server, MacDonald has worked for a number of Calgary bars and restaurants in both front and back-of-house positions.

Fast facts about Madeleine:

• Graduated from SAIT’s Hospitality Management program - 2014
• Organize the Cocktails and Consent training program - 2017
• Brought her mentorship skills and knowledge back to the School of Hospitality and Tourism as an instructor - 2018
• White Hat award winner for beverage specialist - 2018