About Us
The Butternut Tree
Chef & Owner
Scott
Downey
Born and raised in St. Albert, Alberta, Scott Downey developed an early appreciation for Canadian ingredients through summers spent visiting family in New Brunswick. The memory of the butternut tree in his grandmother’s backyard became the inspiration behind The Butternut Tree — a restaurant rooted in gathering, seasonality, and a deep connection to Canada’s landscape and culture.
Scott’s culinary career has taken him around the world, with experience at internationally acclaimed restaurants including Daniel in New York, Noma in Denmark, and Wildebeest in Vancouver. He also collaborated with the prestigious James Beard Foundation on a special foraged dinner alongside Chef Eddy Leroux. Following his time abroad, Scott returned to Canada where he founded a foraging company supplying some of Vancouver’s top restaurants before ultimately returning home to Edmonton.
In 2017, Scott and his partner Jillian Fonteyne opened The Butternut Tree in Edmonton’s downtown core with a vision of creating an approachable yet elevated dining experience that celebrates Canadian ingredients, storytelling, and hospitality. Today, the pair also co-own The Marc, one of Edmonton’s longstanding French bistros. In 2025, Scott was recognized as one of Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 for his impact on the city’s culinary landscape and hospitality community.
Owner
Jillian Fonteyne
Born and raised in Edmonton, Jillian Fonteyne’s passion for hospitality was shaped through travel, memorable dining experiences, and early work in the restaurant industry. After studying at NAIT and completing her degree in International Hotel Management at Royal Roads University, Jillian moved abroad to pursue a career in luxury hospitality.
She began her international career at the five-star Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire before relocating to Ireland to join the award-winning Gregans Castle Hotel as Restaurant Manager. Her time in Europe deepened her appreciation for thoughtful service, local ingredients, and the role hospitality plays in creating meaningful guest experiences.
After returning to Edmonton, Jillian became part of the city’s growing independent restaurant scene, helping lead several prominent downtown concepts before co-founding The Butternut Tree alongside Scott Downey in 2017. Together, they have built a restaurant known for warm hospitality, refined dining, and a strong sense of place. As co-owner of both The Butternut Tree and The Marc, Jillian continues to lead with a guest-focused approach that emphasizes inclusivity, genuine hospitality, and memorable experiences for every table.
Event & Wedding Manager
Samantha Auston
At The Butternut Tree, Samantha is the Event and Wedding Manager, bringing a rare blend of hospitality expertise and production-level coordination to every celebration she oversees.
Her background spans international experience in London, England, time in Jasper’s hospitality scene, and work across numerous independent restaurants in Edmonton. This diverse foundation has shaped her ability to manage events of all sizes with ease—balancing high-level organization with a thoughtful, guest-focused approach.
Samantha also holds a Theatre Production diploma from Grant MacEwan University, with a specialization in stage management. This training is reflected in her precise handling of ceremony flow, timelines, and behind-the-scenes coordination, ensuring every moment unfolds seamlessly. She also completed a Hospitality Management diploma at NAIT, further grounding her in the operational and service standards that define exceptional guest experiences.
From weddings to private events and corporate gatherings, Samantha brings calm structure, clear communication, and an instinct for timing and detail—helping create events that feel effortless, natural, and memorable from start to finish.