The Legacy of Chef Margaret Turner
Rosalyn Ediger
“I can only
imagine where all of your graduates are today, all around the world…”
-Dr. David Ross
President of
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Chef Margaret Turner has spent the last thirty-five and a
half years as a culinary instructor at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
in Calgary, Canada. On Friday, February 2, 2018, faculty at the culinary
school, former colleagues and teammates, industry professionals and friends
celebrated Chef Turner’s retirement from SAIT. She felt quite at home in The
Highwood Dining Room, a place where she hosted dozens of fundraising dinners
and events, all in the best interest of her students or team members.
The conversations surrounding her retirement were quite
lively and full of praise. One colleague and former teammate expressed that
Chef Turner’s work life spanned over 35 years, however if calculated in terms
of reach, it would measure multiple lifetimes. That is the essence of Margaret.
She was so committed and devoted to students and young chefs. Her care and
determination towards student success was beyond exceptional and she never
hesitated to go well out of her way to help others and teach them something. Chef
Turner was herself, a SAIT alumna and was proud to represent the school each
time that she trained a team of students for a cooking competition. She was and
still is a firm believer of tough love. The training that she commanded was in
a style of her own that only her “kids” (her students or alumni that she
managed for international competition) could truly understand. Her long-time
colleague and coach of the cooking teams, Chef Gerd Steinmeyer, greeted her
with “Pinch me! I cannot believe that this day has come.” In other words, many
believe that the altruism of Margaret is never-ending.
The legacy of Chef Turner reaches far away from SAIT,
too. (Mostly thanks to Chef Turner, SAIT is among the most medal-winning
institutes of Canada starting in 1982.) Her thousands of students have
graduated and many have moved away to seemingly every corner of the world.
Moreover, Chef Turner’s career as a chef was not limited to SAIT. Her tireless
volunteering with various organizations, foundations, committees etc. kept her
in touch with so many people. Her legacy also includes working as a food
stylist for films and television series that were filmed in Southern Alberta.
Of course, recognition must go to her close family
members who are just as beg-hearted and she is. Chef Turner’s family members
can easily recount detailed stories of individual chefs, they can recall
details of food that was served when and where, and they can cite more facts
about the cooking teams or tour destinations. It goes full circle.
As for Margaret’s next phase in life, many of us are sure
that she has some plans up her sleeve for the cooking world. We just hope that it involves a well-deserved
break. Chef and Chairman of Worldchefs, Andy Cuthbert, while wishing Margaret a
happy retirement, added, “I hope your retirement doesn’t mean the end of
competitions, but means a little more for you to help others continue to be
successful.” I can say that without a doubt, Chef Turner will continue to
support others in their journeys but in the meantime, I wish her all the luck
in the world as she embarks on a new life.
FHA 1994
HOFEX 2015
