Calliope Draper

Edmonton

Unapologetically building an inclusive future for hospitality

For the third edition of its scholarship, 50 Best scoured the globe for aspiring bartenders looking to make their mark on the world of hospitality. From a record-breaking number of applications in 2024 and multiple competitive rounds of judging, one winner emerged: Calliope Draper from Edmonton, Canada.

Draper may be relatively junior to the world of bartending, but she already has big ambitions to make the industry a safer, more welcoming place for all. Her entry into the cocktail sphere stemmed from just one great experience in a local bar that opened her eyes to the power of hospitality. A short while later, she found herself engrossed in the world of drinks creation and professionalising their passion to bring her infectiously positive spirit to the other side of the bar.

In 2022, she became the first non-binary competitor to place in World Class Canada. Two years later, she founded Places You are Welcome: a cocktail-zine devoted to spotlighting queer stories and excellence across the hospitality industry, with 100 percent of the proceeds donated to the Skipping Stone Trans Affirming Legal Fund. Over the last two years, she has also become a regular speaker at cocktail events and conferences across Canada, educating fellow industry folk on building inclusive spaces for queer guests.

As the winning candidate, Draper will head to Japan and Australia for a trio of all-expenses-paid stages (internships) at leading bars at Virtù, High Five and Maybe Sammy in early 2025.

Despite her relatively junior status, Draper already stands as a beacon for a brighter and more inclusive hospitality sector. Her vision to provide unfailingly warm hospitality to LGBTQ+ folks and education for those both in front of and behind the bar is one that earned the respect and admiration of this year’s esteemed judging panel.

Add in a holistic view on sustainability and a touch of hallmark Canadian charm and it’s easy to see why she is a worthy winner of the 50 Best Bars Roku Scholarship 2024 – no doubt just the start of a long and bright career in the bar world.

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