COSTA MESA, CALIF. — California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) announced the debut of the foodservice’s business in Canada, starting with an Edmonton, Alberta, location. The grand opening is scheduled Aug. 1.

CPK Edmonton franchisee Samira Shariff and CPK Alberta chief executive officer Naheed Shariff, mother and son duo, each have decades of restaurant franchising experience, helping other brands emerge in the Alberta province.

“We were first introduced to California Pizza Kitchen in the mid 1990’s and were immediately inspired by its culture and innovation. We’re honored and excited to bring this iconic, forward-thinking brand to Canada for the first time, while simultaneously attributing to job creation here in Alberta,” Naheed Shariff said. “CPK offers a fun, healthy, alternative experience that guests long for, and we’re thrilled to offer Edmonton residents a taste of that. The brand’s innovative, California-fresh cuisine combined with the benevolent culture of the people truly solidified the deal.”

The Edmonton CPK location will serve All Day Breakfast, Dynamite Shrimp, Shanghai Power Bowl, California Tacos with grilled lime chicken or fried fish, CPK’s Original BBQ Chicken Pizza and Thai Crunch Salad, among other items.

CPK Edmonton partnered with the Cross Cancer Institute in an effort to give back to the community and raise funds for people in Alberta fighting cancer, the company said.

“The Shariffs are well-known and highly respected throughout Edmonton, and we are absolutely thrilled to partner with them as they lead California Pizza Kitchen into Canada for the first time,” said Giorgio Minardi, executive vice president of Global and Franchise Operations. “This milestone for our brand serves as a testament to the innovative business model we've created and will further propel our franchise growth efforts on a global scale. We’re proud to welcome such experienced operators like Naheed and Samira and can’t wait to see what the future holds for them as they bring our signature, California-inspired cuisine to the residents of Edmonton.”