After graduating from Prince Andrew High School in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia June of 1984 John decided that a career in the hospitality industry might be something he wanted to do. In  the late eighties John attended the then Dartmouth Vocational Schools (Akerley Campus) culinary arts program where he began the Modular Cooking Program offered.

John then worked at a couple of foodservice jobs after Vocational School and settled at the Keddy's Motor Inn on St Margarets Bay Road in Halifax Nova Scotia, under the direction of Chef Paul Pinn. During his early employment at Keddy's he was encouraged to further his education and enrolled at the N.S.I.T (Nova Scotia Institute of Technology) in their apprenticeship program for the culinary arts. He completed this three year program while at the same time working as a Chef apprentice at Keddy's.

While working at Keddy's and after graduation from the N.S.I.T ( Nova Scotia Institute of Technology) with his Interprovincial Red Seal  and culinary arts certification John met his future wife Lisa Pincock. After a 2 year courtship John and Lisa married on April 4th, 1992 and the couple had their first child Alyssa born June, 13, 1993. John continued to work in the foodservice industry at various locations through out Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford and Cape Breton, and after two more children Kaitlin born March, 1, 1995 and a son Brandon born August, 13, 1996 he applied and was granted a job as Sous Chef at Oakfield Golf and Country Club located in Grand Lake Nova Scotia under the direction of Chef Rodney Cole. in 1998 John and Lisa moved their family to Enfield Nova Scotia so they could raise their family in a country setting and he would be closer to his work. John remained at Oakfield Golf and Country Club settled into their new home and became an active member of the Enfield community joining the Enfield Volunteer Fire Department, and in 2003 John took a season off from the golf course to further his education with the thought of becoming a professional firefighter. John took out a student loan and attended the Waverly Fire Schools career firefighter training program. John graduated from the fire school recieving certification as a level II firefighter with Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations as well as Advanced Medical First Responders (MFR) certification. John applied but was not chosen by the Halifax Regional Fire Services and the same year attended the World Extication Challenge in Dallas Forth Worth Texas with the Enfield Fire Department. The following summer John was back at Oakfield Golf and Country Club as their Sous Chef once again, and at the writting of this Bio remains there under Chef Darrell Cooling after nearly 20 years in its employ. In 2013 John and Lisa fought and won custody of a brother and sister whom were under care of the Provines Minister of Child Services. Having come from an unsettled homelife, custody for Larissa Wood was granted in March of 2013, and her brother Keegan Wood later followed in June of 2014. Larissa and Keegan are now an itegral part of the family and work beside the other family members at Classic Catering's functions.

John's volunteer work with the Enfield Volunteer Fire Department spanned a 15 year period during which time he was a Leutenant, and eventually the President of the Department for a 4 year term. John made numerous contributions to the Fire Department as well as his community and when asked by Jim Hutchinson one of his fellow firefighters one day if he would be interested in catering a wedding for his daughter Classic Catering Services was born. Classic Catering Services went on to provide catering services for all of Jim Hutchinsons daughters as well as all the daughters of firefighter Terry Jones as well.

Classic Catering Services came about as a favour to a friend, but with the professionalism, resonable prices, the aim to please and experience John put into the first caterings, his work and style became known and in demand. Word of mouth advertizing spread and before too long Classic Catering Services was doing banquets, luncheons and receptions as well as weddings and Christmas events for The Municipality of East Hants, The Beaverbank Kinsac Community Centre, Hnatiuk's Hunting and Fishing, The Enfield RCMP numerous weddings for fire fighters who had daughters getting married and the Enfield Volunteer Fire Departments Annual Dinner and Dance for 13 years.

The Milford Recreation Centre along with Jessie Whalen provide a good deal of Classic Caterings annual business. 

 Chef John and Classic Catering Services will strive to make your event as stress free as possible so that you can leave it to us.

 

Look us up and give John a call, you wont regret that you did.

 

On behalf of Classic Catering Services....Thank you for your patronage.