The 6th Annual Heightened Chef Award recipients have been chosen based on their accomplishments in a particular field within the cannabis culture, industry and beyond. These amazing people will join an esteemed group of individuals that have established themselves as role models. The behaviours they demonstrate are an illustration of what the foundation of our community needs to be.
The following are brief descriptions of each award and about each recipient:
Cannabis Vanguard: Recognition of excellence for a person/entity who pushes cannabis culture forward, uplifts the community and protects the integration of both.
As The Heightened Chef aspires to be the pinnacle of Cannabis culture, we bestow our highest honour to other leaders within the cannabis community that inspire us all to be greater. Chandra “Bird” Diptee-Seurattan is our first posthumous recipient and a testament to understanding and change. Coming from an extremely conservative environment and a strict Caribbean family, she had the courage to choose a new path for herself and her family.
Never allowing any topic to be taboo opened the door for me to challenge any status quo, even her own. By eventually allowing science, reason and logic to overcome misinformation, myths and fear about cannabis; my mother epitomized the internal evolution that I hope every one of my readers leap toward.
Creative Visionary: Recognition for a person/entity whose creative expression uniquely affects others in impacting ways allowing new perspectives.
Jerome Cabanatan is an accomplished visual artist, coach and teacher in his hometown of Toronto. He is a perfect example of how someone who does not consume Cannabis can have such a great effect on those who do. Enjoyed by all, his works range from independent comic books to graphic novels to commissioned art works and caricatures.
Of late he has been working on a new revolutionary graphic novel series tackling real world problems. The first installment called The Sanity Thief is meant to help identify and combat the Imposter Syndrome within oneself.
Trailblazing Innovator: Awarded to Innovators changing paradigms in the cannabis industry. While innovation is often closely connected to technology, it is not restricted to this. Sometimes all it takes is figuring out a new way to do something.
This year, our Trailblazing Innovator is Ariel Abrazado of Lakay Kusina who is both the owner and proprietor. His acute knowledge of Filipino cuisine combined with his social savvy has placed him at some of this year’s coolest events with the coolest food.
When not innovating dishes like his Lumpia 2.0 or his Dinosaur Chicharron, he is crossing lanes by holding AC swath of themed fusion events bringing diverse cultures together! This year’s 420 event; Rolled and Fried earned him a place in my personal Hall of Fame. Based on his current trajectory, I may have to build him an entire wing!
The Olympian: This special recognition is to a member of our vendor family for providing outstanding products and above and beyond support to our guests.
The platform The Heightened Chef has created rests heavily on the shoulders of our Herculean small business vendor family, hence the name of the award given to the year’s best.
This year’s trophy goes to the Cannabis Hut. This small, family-owned franchise has beaten the odds in a fierce arena of competition. Where many others have disappeared into the sand, Cannabis Hut not only remained but also thrived!
The highly knowledgeable staff have helped curate an impeccable selection of products and provide friendly, helpful advice on how to choose what’s best for each customer. They set the bar for what a licensed dispensary should look and feel like. With probably my easiest selection for recipients this year, I’m proud to have Cannabis Hut join the Pantheon of Olympians.
The Rookie of the Year: Awarded to the person/entity with the most impressive debut this season.
This year’s recipient is the Spark + Play Foundation. The moment I found out about a Caribbean based, cannabis centric nonprofit organization, I knew I had to investigate. Gladly, I found the people at Spark + Play to be warm, enthusiastic and dedicated to doing good in the name of Cannabis. Making meaningful impacts both domestically and abroad in the Caribbean countries from which many of us hail could not have impressed me more.
Their illustrious Charity Gala this year blew me away on multiple levels, but mostly by the kindness inspired by them amongst their attendees. It is truly exciting to await what incredible feats they will achieve Inn years to come!
The Heightened Chef will always continue to highlight and showcase the amazing talent present in our community! While we’ve been on a short sabbatical hiatus, 2026 will see our return to the stage with new and delightful experiences pushing cannabis culture further into the future!
So much love and praise to everyone involved with us this past year, you are all family for life.
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