Scott Fraser was working as a foreman for a construction company in Vancouver, British Columbia, nearly 30 years ago when he made a decision that would alter his life.

On a whim, he decided to attend an international culinary competition inside a brand-new convention center at Canada Place, which was preparing to host visitors from around the world for Expo ‘86.

Under the World’s Fair sails, Fraser said he saw chefs do things he’d never seen before.

“I saw food for the first time in my life as an art form,” he said. “I knew from that moment, it changed my life and I was going to be a chef.”

Fraser enrolled in the French-focused Pierre Dubrulle Culinary School in 1987 and started realizing his chef dreams.

Nearly three decades later, he is approaching nine years as head chef and owner of Frasers Gourmet Hideaway in Oak Harbor.

Along the way, he’s endorsed a philosophy of giving back to his community that has caught the attention of others in the restaurant industry.

Frasers Gourmet Hideaway recently was recognized as the Washington Restaurant Association’s 2015 state Restaurant Neighbor Award winner in the small restaurant category.

The award celebrates outstanding charitable service by restaurant operators.

The honor is a first for Fraser, whose restaurant is now eligible for the national award, which will be selected this month.

“It’s kind of a natural thing to give back to the community,” Fraser said. “We’re blessed that we can do some things so people can enjoy food. We can put on festival-type events.

“It’s kind of an easy thing for restaurant people to do.

“That’s the only reason people cook — is to try to make other people happy.”

Fraser’s involvement in community events runs deep. He helps run two major community feasts each year and also is a longtime mentor of Oak Harbor High School’s nationally touted culinary arts program.

Fraser is one of the founders of the North Whidbey Community Harvest, a Thanksgiving Day event where a free, full-course dinner is served. That event, which has been around for 13 years, typically feeds about 3,000 people.

Fraser also started the Oak Harbor Pigfest, which served free pork dinners to about 6,000 people last year and held a sanctioned barbecue competition.

Through donations and sponsor contributions, $12,000 was raised at Pigfest for charitable causes in the community.

Fraser said he is expecting up to 30 barbecue competitors in 2015.

For 14 years, Fraser has mentored the high school’s culinary students through the ProStart program, accompanying them to competitions as far away as the East Coast.

The Wildcats recently were recognized as among the nation’s “Elite 50” high school hospitality programs.

“Chef Fraser exemplifies what it means to ‘Give back to the community,’” said Mary Arthur, Oak Harbor High School’s culinary arts advisor.

“Through his generosity, so many students’ lives have been changed for the better.”

Fraser, who used to be half-owner of the Kasteel Franssen restaurant on State Highway 20 for 13 years before opening Frasers Gourmet Hideaway, said working in the restaurant industry doesn’t feel like work to him at all — it’s a joy.

And he gets even more joy helping make others happy and manages his and his staff’s schedule to make it happen.

“You make time,” Fraser said. “You try to balance things.”