Mark von Schellwitz

As Vice President-Western Canada of Restaurants Canada, Mark von Schellwitz combined two of his
passions – the hospitality industry and public affairs.
His involvement in the hospitality industry came at a young age as his family built, owned and
operated, a small resort hotel on Vancouver Island after moving to BC from Alberta where Mark
was born and raised.
While obtaining his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at the University of British Columbia,
Mark helped support his education by working part time at various Vancouver restaurants.
In 1985, Mark completed his degree and his interest in Canadian politics took him to Ottawa, where
he became an Assistant to the Honourable Pat Carney in two portfolios, Minister of Energy Mines
and Resources and International Trade. In 1988, he returned to Vancouver and worked as the BC
Regional Assistant to the Minister of Western Economic Diversification.
In 1991, Mark moved to Vancouver Island to manage the family’s resort hotel for the next five
years. During that time, he successfully expanded the business to include a new neighbourhood
pub.
In 1997, Mark returned to Vancouver and accepted a government affairs manager position with
Canada’s largest hospitality industry association, the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices
Association. In 2001, Mark was appointed the association’s Vice President for Western Canada. In
2014 the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association rebranded and is now known as
Restaurants Canada.
Mark’s work on numerous public policy issues in BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan over the years has
helped association members in the challenging foodservices industry grow and prosper. Mark
continues to be a strong advocate for the hospitality industry and represents the industry on
numerous small business and tourism related organization boards and committees. Mark is past
Chairman of the Coalition of BC Businesses and of Go2 (BC’s resource for people in tourism).