About Stó:lō Catering
~~ Welcome to Stó:lō Catering ~~ By Sylvia Silver
I am the owner of Stó:lō Catering, and a proud member of the Sumas (Sema:th) First Nation which is part of the
Stó:lō Nation in BC's Fraser Valley.
We are the People of the River.
Since time immemorial, we have had deep connections and respect for the lands, waterways and wildlife that have sustained our families and economies for generations.
We are based in what is now known as Abbotsford, BC in the beautiful Fraser Valley region.
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About Our Logo
Our company's logo was designed by my father,
Vince Silver. It captures the spirit of the salmon that have nourished our family and communities for generations.
How family history became 'her'story...
We come from humble beginnings, but our family knows how to host a feast.
My grandparents, Sumas First Nations member Cathy Ned and her husband Ken Croply, were well known for hosting huge, amazing dinners ~ and helping others do the same.
Like many caterers, it took years to finally 'officially' turn their passion into a business venture.
They started Stó:lō Catering on April 1, 1994
For over 23 years, Cathy and Ken built up a strong, loyal list of friends, families, and organizations who ordered their famous BBQ salmon feasts and delicious dinners.
Although my grandparents say they retired in December of 2017 (wink, wink), I will always appreciate their support when my sister and I stepped up to lead Stó:lō Catering...
Ken and Cathy's 'Farewell Message" to our Community:
"With Cheyenne, Sylvia and our other excellent staff (and maybe a little help from grandma and papa) we believe that Stó:lō Catering can continue on for many years to come."
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When you grow up admiring your grandparents and watching them build a successful catering company, you learn about the value of putting customers first, 'delivering' excellent service and maintaining high standards.
I will always be grateful for their support as we moved into ownership ~ and leadership ~ roles for the company.
Transitioning to New Leadership: Sylvia and Cheyenne
Cheyenne Trumble and I were actually first cousins, but everyone knew our bond was that of sisters. With the help of the team at Stó:lō Community Futures and a business loan, we finalized the financials to became 'official' owners.
We had learned well from 'Papa and Grandma Deddles'
yet as we began this new chapter as business owners, the COVID-19 pandemic quickly disrupted personal and professional lives.
We were forced to cancel all catering events for spring and summer 2020...but we adjusted. We created single-serving versions of our meals and began a few socially-safe group deliveries to loyal customers.
We worked hard to keep our business alive through challenging times.
Then the unthinkable happened...
In January 2021, we were all devastated by the news
that Cheyenne suddenly passed away.
Health restrictions meant that our family could not follow our cultural tradition of hosting a community gathering to grieve. We are thankful for the support we received and will host a ceremony in her honour once it's safe to come together.
Cheyenne's generous spirit, her vitality and her passion for incredible food will live on through Stó:lō Catering.
We were planning to open a new bistro and commercial kitchen at the new Sumas Gas Station this fall...so we will carry her spirit and name forward.
The new location will be called
Chey's Bistro and Bannock in her honour.
Moving Forward with Courage, Community and Confidence
There are so many people to thank for their support over the last few years. From my grandparents to our business advisors to our loyal customers and our new friends...
I appreciate all of your help to move forward in a good way.
I hope that you like the new version of our logo and website that honours our connection to the waterways, wildlife and lands that nourish our minds, spirits and bodies.
Thank you for taking the time to learn a little more about our company story.
As we start to resume catering for larger events this year, we will build on our past successes to continue to provide excellent service in the future.
We look forward to helping you to be 'good hosts' with exceptional food and service through Stó:lō Catering, and soon, through Chey's Café and Bannock in Sumas.
In honour and respect,
Sylvia Silver ~ Owner, Stó:lō Catering
Phone: 604-621-6656 Email: info@stolocatering.ca