The Day They Came

GERARD LOUIS BREISSAN is a native of Aix-en-Provence, in the South of France; and a Canadian citizen. As a boy, he studied classical literature and showed an early gift for writing, winning many school and regional prizes, as sponsored by the publishers, Hachette and the Lycée Mignet.

He wanted to see the world and chose a career in the Hospitality Industry as a means of achieving this ambition. He has worked in Bermuda, Canada, the UK, and the USA and has spoken at conferences and given consultancy services in India, the Lebanon, and the Philippines. For four years he was a summer lecturer at the prestigious Cornell University Hotel School, teaching Food and Beverage management for the professional development programme. While in Canada, he was frequently invited by large food organizations to be a Keynote speaker at events such as trade shows and exhibitions, including at well-known venues such as The National Art Centre, Ottawa.

Since 2005, he has been working and living in China, where he is the Head of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Jilin University-Lambton College in Changchun. When possible, he travels around the country to learn about Chinese culture and traditions.

Breissan never forgot his passion for writing. While working in London, England at famous hotels such as the Savoy, Connaught and Hilton Hyde Park Corner, he studied at West London College, subsequently specializing in English writing and poetry. After moving to Canada and rising to executive positions he continued to write and was in due course appointed the National Editor of Essence magazine, the official publication of the Canadian Federation of Chefs and Cooks. Food service operators have often used his materials for educational purposes and motivational tools. In 1995, Gérard Breissan received the Sandy Sanderson Journalism award in tribute to his numerous published articles in Trade magazine.