Meet Our Founder

Tommy’s Whole Grain Bakery was founded in 2023 by Port Coquitlam native Tommy Aird.

Tommy studied at the George Brown Culinary School in Toronto, Ontario in 2011, and has been a baker and pastry chef for over 10 of the 17 years he’s worked in the restaurant industry.

Over the years, Tommy has learned from many trailblazers in grains and attended numerous grain and soil conferences. He discovered his passion for the Whole Grain Movement in 2016.

• While living in Toronto, Tommy was mentored by Dawn Woodward, whole grain advocate and expert, owner of Evelyn’s Crackers and author of Flour is Flavour.

• Tommy spent the summer of 2018 working in Los Angeles with Nan Kohler, owner of the preeminent flour mill Grist&Toll. 

• In 2022, Tommy was invited to participate in the UK Grain Lab, where he showcased Tommy’s Whole Grain Baguette. 

Prior to founding Tommy’s Whole Grain, Tommy worked for top restaurants in both Canada and the United States, including Bar Isabel (No.10 on Canada’s Top 100 Best Restaurants, 2016) and Blue Hill at Stone Barns (No.28 World’s 50 Best Restaurants, 2019).