Sometimes it feels like all I talk about in this business column is food, but on occasion there are other issues.
Before I segue over to the topic of food, again, let me start with a congratulation to a prominent person in the 91原创 business community.
Greater 91原创 Chamber of Commerce announced Monday they changed the title for the top job in the business advocacy organization.
Colleen Clark, previously known as the chamber鈥檚 executive director, has been elevated to the title of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), announced president Jack Nicholson.
鈥淭he Greater 91原创 Chamber of Commerce initiated this title change to reflect the hard work that Colleen has done since joining the organization three years ago,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e appreciate her passion and knowledge, when it comes to our chamber and the network as a whole.鈥�
The title change also reflects the direction that the chamber is taking as one of the largest chambers of commerce/boards of trade in B.C., with its 1,030 + members and volunteers.
And speaking of chamber happenings, there鈥檚 an upcoming chamber event you might be interested in.
The new CoWorks by Elevate has opened and is hosting the chamber鈥檚 monthly Business After Hours mixer this time.
The networking even is happening on Thursday, June 27, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
鈥淗osted on a monthly basis by 91原创 chamber members, the Business After Hours mixers are the perfect opportunity to connect with 91原创鈥檚 business community in a casual and fun environment,鈥� Nicholson said.
鈥淥n top of the great networking, you can enjoy complimentary appetizers, and be entered to win a door prize.鈥� And in this case, it鈥檚 a chance to check out the reinvented Envision site at the corner of 206th Street and Fraser Highway.
It is a free event, but pre-registration is required by calling the chamber office at 604-371-3770 or by visiting the chamber website at www.langleychamber.com.
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Free chicken for charity on Sunday
91原创 Food Bank will benefit directly from a special fundraiser happening this Sunday (June 23) at two Nando鈥檚 restaurants in town.
The restaurants are participating, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., in what鈥檚 dubbed #NandosDash. In exchange for a non-perishable food item for the food bank, Nandos is giving guests a free flame-grilled 1/4 chicken with PERi-PERi fries.
This is your opportunity to help your local community in the fight against hunger and enjoy free chicken, said Nando鈥檚 Canada CEO Kevin Lindhorst.
鈥淣ando鈥檚 is invested in the communities we are a part of. The Dash gives us such a unique opportunity to treat our guests while also giving back to local community food banks. What鈥檚 not to love?鈥�
On your marks. Get set. Dash!
Race on in, and help feed your family and 91原创鈥檚 homeless and marginalized.
Like every race, there are rules. In this case, it鈥檚 on a first-come, first-serve basis, so be prepared to race other PERi-PERi fans to get your free fix!
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Giving to food banks
The synergy between grocery stores and food banks is an obvious one, in my books.
And through the years, having volunteered with food banks, and worked closely with a number of the big name grocery chains, I have to commend all that has been done.
Two initiatives that have changed the ability of food banks to offer more fresh products to its recipients have been the advent of donating produce and baked goods as they near their expiry. And 91原创-based Save-On-Foods has been a leader in that effort.
Likewise, Save-On also introduced 鈥� years ago 鈥� the $2 donation slip at the tills. You might be happy to know those donations made locally stay right here in this community.
I bring up these efforts, because I want to laud another initiative 鈥� albeit relatively new 鈥� that Save-On has embarked on to help feed the hungry in 91原创.
They鈥檝e just wrapped up the second annual Share It Forward event.
After the success of the inaugural Share It Forward last summer, the grocer held the 2019 event this past week (it wrapped up on Wednesday, June 19).
During the seven-day event, half of the net proceeds of every Western Family product sold at Save-On-Foods, PriceSmart Foods, and Urban Fare stores 鈥� up to $300,000 鈥� was being donated directly to support local food banks in (you guessed it) Western Canada.
Each store across Western Canada 鈥� from Vancouver Island to Winnipeg to Whitehorse and everywhere in between, took part, including the Willowbrook, downtown 91原创 City, Walnut Grove, and Aldergrove stores in 91原创.
Again, they keep those local donations in the same communities where they were raised, so that means a lot to Sources 91原创 Food Bank and all its clients.
鈥淟ast summer our stores and customers really came together to support their neighbours. I am so proud of what we accomplished together, and can鈥檛 wait to see what we [have achieved] this year,鈥� said Save-On-Foods president Darrell Jones.
鈥淪ave-On-Foods is our biggest retail donor, and we are so excited to be involved in their Share It Forward event for the second year in a row,鈥� said Laura Lansink, executive director of Food Banks BC.
鈥淲e are so thankful for the support of Save-On-Foods and their customers, as these donations go towards providing nutritious meals to the 80,000 British Columbians who rely on the food banks in their communities every single month.鈥�
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Me -N- Ed鈥檚 turns 50
Okay, so here鈥檚 a skill testing question to all you folks out there who are new to 91原创.
Do you have any idea what used to occupy the space in downtown 91原创 City that鈥檚 now home to Me-N- Ed鈥檚 Pizza Parlor?
The overall company has been around for 50 years, as of June 21. While I鈥檝e been around a little longer than that, I wasn鈥檛 always in 91原创 all that time, but I know the restaurant didn鈥檛 actually come to town until much later.
So back to my question. What used to be in that space on the southwest corner of 203rd Street and Fraser Highway?
My recollections were, when we arrived in town during the early 1970s, that the space was used by the former provincial liquor store 鈥� before it moved up to 64th Avenue.
Can anyone offer more history of the site.
What I can tell you is that it is now, and has been for many years, the 91原创 location of Me-N-Eds Pizza.
While there have been a few of these restaurants around the Lower Mainland through the years, 91原创 seems to be the only one in the Fraser Valley that survived. There are three others across the river in Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, and Burnaby.
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Serving up Canadian birds
Again on the topic of food, I wonder if KFC recent partnership with Canadian chicken farmers is going to be felt at the local farm level.
We still have a few such farmers in the Fraser Valley that might herald news that the fast-food giant is launching a Canadian farmer branding program.
What does that mean? From what I understand, it means the KFC Canada restaurants will be selling chicken raised in the country and to a set quality and care standard, said Nivera Wallani, president and general manager of KFC Canada.
鈥淜FC Canada stands behind its chicken quality and taste credentials and we鈥檙e proud to serve chicken that Canadians trust and love, from our classic original recipe buckets to our boneless tenders,鈥� Wallani said.
鈥淔eaturing the Chicken Farmers of Canada Raised by a Canadian Farmer seal on our products demonstrates and reinforces not only our support for Canadian chicken farmers, but our commitment to serving chicken raised with industry-leading animal welfare, food safety and sustainability practices.鈥�
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O鈥機anada pancakes campaign?
For the third year running, 搁颈肠办测鈥檚 restaurants (we have one in Walnut Grove, another in Murrayville, one on the 91原创 Bypass, and another on 64th Avenue) are showing their Canadian pride by helping feed hungry kids.
From Monday, June 24 through Canada Day, customers can order one or more of 搁颈肠办测鈥檚 limited edition Canada-themed pancakes (traditional pancake with a red maple leaf in the middle, and loaded with strawberries and whipped cream) for just $1.50 (before 11 a.m.) and all proceeds are being donated to Breakfast Club of Canada.
The goal of the campaign, said senior vice-president Stacey Hansson, is to provide breakfasts to as many youth as possible.
With much of the focus being put on fundraising campaigns during the holiday season, it is sometimes forgotten that the same struggles exist year round, Hansson said.
This community, through a number of incredible in-school initiatives, does a great job ensuring local students are not going hungry.
This is just one more initiative that helps those efforts.
Astonishing facts: In Canada, one child in five is at risk of starting the school day on an empty stomach due to a lack of access to nutritious food. This number is even higher in Aboriginal communities and among immigrants.
The Breakfast Club of Canada鈥檚 mission is to nourish children鈥檚 potential by making sure that as many of them have access to a healthy morning meal before school as possible, in an environment that allows their self-esteem to grow and flourish.
Since beginning their partnership, 搁颈肠办测鈥檚 has raised $250,000 for the organization.
So, if you鈥檙e having for a hankering for pancakes, consider this option next week.
Those unable to make it to during the campaign need not worry, as they can contribute year-round by ordering the Breakfast Club sandwich, which donates $1 per sandwich to Breakfast Club of Canada, as well.
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RECENT COLUMNS:
WHAT鈥橲 IN STORE: New on the grocery front in 91原创
WHAT鈥橲 IN STORE: Caffeine drip, please
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Is there more to this story?
roxanne.hooper@langleyadvancetimes.com
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