For the past couple of years I have been working with the Calgary Food Community, local charities and producers, and either organizing or creating events.
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YYC Burger Week (now known as) YYC Burger Battle
In 2014 I joined founder Sabahat and the YYC Burger Week team. Together our large team helped increase their total amount of $7,000 raised for charity in 2013, to almost $25,000 raised for charity in 2014. Even though I no longer volunteer with the team, this annual event has grown to become YYC Burger Battle, a 10 day event supporting local and charity.
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Started YYC Pizza Week in 2014. With the help of over 40 restaurants and a team of dedicated volunteers, we raised close to $10,000 for Calgary Meals on Wheels in our first year.
In 2015 YYC Pizza Week The Sequel returned and we put together a strong team of volunteers raising close to $10,000 for Calgary Meals on Wheels.
2016 saw us expanding on our management team again to bring in more expertise. We led an amazing team of volunteers and created more buzz in the community. We are looking forward to new ideas and a fantastic YYC Pizza Week returning to the Calgary Community in September 2016.
2017 had us tapping into many connections and friends in the community and due to this the team grew yet again while we saw some members leave. New ideas, fresh perspectives and new local pizza making destinations came on board for another successful event.
2018 was a transition year and I decided to step down from YYC Pizza Week, offering it to the charity we started the event with, Calgary Meals on Wheels. They successfully executed YYC Pizza week 2018 and will continue to carry on this highly anticipated annual Calgary event.
As founder of this event I am pleased to announce in four years of having this event in Calgary (2014-2017), supporting local business and charity, we have seen 11,097 pizzas consumed and over $35,000 dollars raised for charity. Couldn’t be prouder of the volunteers who help make this happen.
YYC Pizza Week to raise funds for Calgary Meals on Wheels via Gerry Forbes at the Calgary Sun
YYC Pizza Week 2018 – The Torch Has Been Passed
2015 Culinaire Food Treasure Hunt
In 2012 my husband and I participated in Anneke’s Calgary Treasure Hunt. We had such a good time. And then the organizer became ill and was not able to carry on with another event, so after chatting with her and having discussions within the local food community in 2014, a new race was about to take shape.
Eventually a sponsor (Culinaire Magazine) stepped forward advising their intent to work with me on the race in 2015. I agreed and started planning the race similarly to Anneke’s Calgary Treasure Hunt of 2012. It was fun organizing this race and executing it utilizing the many food community contacts I had. It was a successful first year for me. Then my race became branded and I decided to move on.
My mandate has always been to support local businesses and the race I planned in 2015 involved local businesses who wanted to be part of something special.
In 2016 I formed new partnerships within the food community and together we created the Culinary Race. This one day race involved solving clues and puzzles, performing tasks, trying bites and beverages, dressing up if you so choose and having a good ole time. A similiar format to the one Anneke had used but also adding in new twists and turns. Find more information on the website link above.
Calgary Food Bloggers Bake Sale
Started and founded by Vincci Tsui, I took it over in 2014 and partnered with the Calgary Farmers Market and Brown Bagging for Calgary’s kids. Life became to busy and I was no longer able to plan this event. Looking to revisit in the future with a team of local bloggers.
Working with City Palate, Yelp Calgary, Calgary Farmers Market and the Italian Centre, we had 100 teams registered and over 50 participating food destinations involved in our biggest race yet in our first year as the Culinary Race. We included great bonus clues both leading up to and during the race and brought on the Calgary Food Bank as our Charity of choice. We brought on four revolving clues the day of the race allowing racers to gain more clues by following their movement on social media. We sent out survey’s to participants and received great feedback.
2017 we worked together with Eight Ounce Coffee to both launch and finish the race. We partnered yet again and worked with the Calgary Food Bank adding bonus points if food bank donations were brought to registration. We had revolving food trucks as our bonus clues, again encouraging racers to follow them on social media to discover where they were. Another sell out with 100 teams racing and all kinds of amazing sponsors involved.
2018 has been a transition year for us. Follow the website for more details on what the future holds.
