Our Team
Debbie Lambert, Publisher
Born into an entrepreneurial family and managing advertising sales for the past 40 years, Debbie is doing what comes naturally; leading a sales-based business. A self-proclaimed coffee addict, Debbie is thrilled to be at the helm of Savour Calgary, working with a truly wonderful team of people. Being able to blend her experience in business, sales and the culinary industry is her true passion. Born and raised in Toronto, Calgary has been home for the past 18 years where she lives with her husband Rob. When she’s not working on the magazine, she can sometimes be spotted helping on the Meraki-On-The-Go food truck, owned by her chef daughter, Amanda. Relaxation time is spent travelling and spending time with their kids and grandchildren.
Camie Leard, Editor-in-Chief
Camie has a passion for music, food and the people who make them. A lifelong Calgarian, Camie brings 20+ years of experience telling stories about this city as an editor, communications professional and blogger. In her spare time, Camie is a painter and musician who is always looking for the next great meal.
Ellen Kelly, Contributing Editor
As a second-generation Calgarian (and third generation Albertan), Ellen’s heart and soul reside in the grasslands. Along with her passion for, and devotion to, all things food and beverage, she brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Savour Calgary in order to celebrate and promote the industry, the city and the province that she loves. During the course of Ellen’s career, she has worn, variously and sometimes concurrently, the hats of bookseller and publisher’s rep, chef, restaurant consultant, caterer, cooking instructor and food writer. She now fills her days with culinary magazine advertising sales, to which she brings over 25 years of experience, and continues to write whenever the opportunity presents.
Wanda Baker, Marketing and Communications Manager, Digital Editor
As a young child Wanda loved watching cooking shows on PBS Saturday mornings, and credits this as the early beginnings of her interest in cooking, recipe testing, and food writing. A strong food community advocate, she’s managed events in Calgary like YYC Pizza Week, and the Culinary Race. Wanda’s been featured in Western Canadian Magazines, and on local media stations, is a professional communicator, storyteller, and conversation starter who loves to produce compelling content to create thoughtful conversations. In 2018, Meals on Wheels created The Baker Award in Wanda’s name given out annually to local restaurants recognizing community spirit during YYC Pizza Week (YYC Pizza Fest). Contact: wanda@savourcalgary.ca.
Contributors
Shelley Boettcher, Contributor
Shelley Boettcher is a former Calgary Herald staff food and wine writer, a syndicated national wine columnist for CBC Radio’s morning weekend shows and the author of three books about wine. Her stories have appeared in magazines and newspapers around the world. Follow her on Twitter @shelley_wine and Instagram @shelleyboettcher.
Elizabeth Chorney-Booth, Contributor
With over 20 years of professional experience as a writer and editor, I have written hundreds of magazine and online articles for titles including The Globe and Mail, Swerve, the Calgary Herald, BOLD, Where, Avenue, Chart Magazine, WestJet Magazine, Culinaire, Today’s Parent, Leap, Spur and Prelude Live. I also am the weekly restaurant columnist for the Calgary Herald and a bi-weekly food columnist on CBC Radio. In addition to journalism, I also work with businesses to provide marketing copy for print and online platforms and offer professional editing services to add polish to pre-written text.
Bernice Hill, Contributor
Bernice Hill is the food writer, recipe developer, taster, photographer, and social media mind behind Dish ‘n’ the Kitchen. She loves to create new and interesting recipes using seasonal ingredients and fun techniques. When she’s not cooking/baking/preserving, she’s out on the town enjoying great food others have prepared.
Erin Jenkins, Contributor
With messy hair and a big appetite, Erin is constantly in search of the next great meal (ideally with a view). As a writer whose secret dream is to open a restaurant, the opportunity to cover the local food scene with Savour both makes her hungry and keeps her full. Erin loves connecting with local businesses and producers, whose passion and love for their craft and community is always worth celebrating. Erin is also a musician, and you can catch her band, Crystal Eyes, playing a local show (usually at the Palomino!).
Alison Martin, Illustrator
Alison Martin is an illustrator, letterer, educator and creative adventurer based in Calgary. When she isn’t teaching art to young creatives or running local workshops, she is busy refining her skills in her studio. You can also find her trying new food and drink recipes in her kitchen or searching for a flight to visit new inspiring places. Follow her adventures on Instagram @amartincreative
Karen Ralph, Contributor
Karen Ralph, co-author of Calgary Eats and Calgary Cooks, founded grassland gluten free baking and leads the wine program for The Cookbook Co. Cooks annual culinary escapes to the south of France. She earned a BFA from ACAD and was a long time contributor to City Palate Magazine.
Susan Turnbull, Contributor
Susan Turnbull is a cook, gardener, artist, and lover of tea and travel. After years of developing and testing recipes, she is currently working on her first cookbook. Selling and cooking with herbs and spices has greatly expanded her food knowledge. After running successful home-based businesses, her love of food and nutrition led to a passion for gardening, expanding from windowsill herbs to a thriving garden that yields hundreds of tomatoes and many varieties of seasonal vegetables suitable to Calgary’s climate. She continues to research daily about the impact of unprocessed, home-cooked food on overall health and well-being, and how fresh produce can play a part. Calgary has always been her home, and she loves to support and nurture relationships with local businesses.
