Before I retired from teaching, one of my bucket list items was ‘Become A Sommelier”.The fates conspired just at the right time: in October of the year I retired, NAIT offered the International Sommelier Guild Diploma Program: the Grail at the end of the long quest. In  2011, Alison and Grant took a chance on a green (grey??) rookie just out of school, with no real experience in the industry, and hired me. I’ve had a passion for wine all my life, and working at the store has expanded my horizons to spirits, beers, liqueurs, and all else that a store such as Aligra offers. I like to whip up a good plate of grub for family and friends, and I stay active volunteering in my church and in the Greater Edmonton Alliance advocacy group here in town. I hope to stay at the store for a while yet, until my knees or resolve finally give way.