Two Okanagan industry leaders named to BC Restaurant Hall of Fame

Two prominent names with ties to the Okanagan food and hospitality industry will be recognized this fall with induction into the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame.

Kelowna’s Christina Ferreira and Okanagan-born chef Ned Bell are among 24 people selected for the 2026 class by the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association. The induction ceremony is scheduled for Oct. 19 in Vancouver.

Ferreira is the founder of Impact Events, a Kelowna-based company that has spent nearly two decades organizing festivals, events and marketing initiatives throughout the province’s hospitality sector. The company also produces several large community festivals.

Bell has built a career as a chef, restaurateur and advocate for sustainable food systems. He is co-owner of Hatch Hospitality and serves as creative advisor for Okanagan College’s Centre for Food, Wine and Tourism, which is expected to open in 2027.