On Thursday, September 18, from 6:30-9 p.m., the historic Lodge at the Old Dorm (460 Melmore Rd) will host the much-anticipated 1st Annual Bowen Island International Wine Festival. Tickets to this exclusive event are $50 (cash only) and are on sale now at Phoenix On Bowen (992 Dorman Rd) and Bowen Beer and Wine Cellar (996 Dorman).
This one-day only wine tasting will feature up to fifty premium wines from across the globe, alongside delicious culinary offerings from Vancouver’s award-winning Memphis Blues Barbeque House and Bowen’s own Artisan Eats. One-hundred percent of proceeds will support the Bowen Children’s Centre (BCC), a non-profit society that’s home to three core programs for children: Bowen Island Preschool, the Community Daycare and The After School Club. The Centre is a resource hub for the community’s young families, and offers seminars and workshops on a wide range of topics relating to parenting issues and early childhood development.
The BCC depends on the Bowen Island community for support and are grateful to their Island partners for their continued involvement. One of the ways they raise money for programming, bursaries and other projects is by helping to host community events. The Bowen Wine Festival could very well prove to be one of the most popular.
Dan Parkin and Julia McLaughlin, owners of the The Lodge, have generously been on board as venue sponsors since the idea was first discussed more than a year ago. In fact, the genesis of the Festival came from three local wine professionals, who each wanted to give back to their community.
Paul Rickett is the manager of the Bowen Island Beer and Wine Cellar, which offers the Island’s largest and finest selection of wines, beers, spirits, ciders and coolers. Paul is also a recognized thought-leader within the industry and is a popular commentator via social media. He has been sharing his passion for wine with the Bowen community for years. “We recognize that Bowen is a diverse community that needs to support its own. This is a great way to give back to an Island charity while learning about the exciting world of wine.”
Park Heffelfinger, co-founder of the acclaimed Memphis Blues group of southern barbeque restaurants, has two daughters, one of which had attended the Daycare last year and is scheduled to return to the centre in September. “We are holding this event to assist an organization that has provided so much not to only our family, but has helped many other families across the Island.”
Sujinder Juneja is a public and media relations expert with a focus on wine, food and the hospitality industry. With the support of Paul and the Beer and Wine Cellar, he has already held two successful and sold-out wine tastings at Artisan Eats, each in support of the BCC.
“Both my daughter and my son have benefitted from the exceptional care and education from the staff and teachers at the Children’s Centre. I’m so pleased that the first edition of the Wine Festival will help to maintain the BCC’s legacy of raising the next generation of Islanders.”
“In past years we have held two wine tasting events at Artisan Eats with Sujinder and Paul,” notes Children’s Centre executive director Ann Silberman. “If you attended either of these events, you will not want to miss the upcoming new festival on September 18. They are knowledgeable and dynamic and we guarantee you will have a wonderful evening.”
In keeping with the past two tastings, Paul will have order forms on hand for ticket holders who wish to purchase bottles of the featured wines. He has further pledged to donate an additional $1.00 for each bottle ordered that night to the Children’s Centre. It is hoped that the evening will raise close to $5000 to support the Centre’s mandate to provide top quality early childhood education and childcare.
There are a limited number of tickets available for this one-night-only tasting and it is expected that they will sell out soon. Don’t miss your chance to enjoy a hand-picked selection of fantastic wines and delicious food while raising money to help your community.
