Thrifty Foods BBQ Festival Raises Nearly $10,000

Photo left to right: Maeve O’Byrne, President of the Nanaimo & District; Clint L’Heureux, Pacific Coast Mustang Association; Cheri Holder, Sundeck Centre; Allison Donaghey, Festival organizer; Dan Zapotichny, Longwood Station Thrifty Foods; Mikel Knutsson, Port Place Thrifty Foods; Jerry Jaggers, Brooks Landing Thrifty Foods; Jill Breker, NRGH Emergency Department Manager; Shane Brade, Craftsman Collision.

BBQ Festival Benefits NRGH ER

Thousands of Nanaimoites converged on Commercial Street to enjoy the inaugural Thrifty Foods Nanaimo Barbeque Festival July 14th and 15th. The Kansas City BBQ Society sanctioned event saw competitors from across North America vie for the best barbequed meat in town. The weekend was busy with family-friendly events including a rib eating contest, classic car show and shine, family fun zone, and a cornucopia of live music.

Thrifty Foods managers and their staff were hard at work grilling ribs and pressing old-fashioned lemonade in order to raise funds for the Nanaimo & District Hospital. As a result the title sponsor raised more than $7,300 for the new Emergency Department at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH); a total that included proceeds from the rib eating contest. Thrifty Foods was helped by Sundeck Centres, the Pacific Coast Mustang Association, and Craftsmen Collision. These companies independently raised funds for the Emergency Department at their booths during the Festival. Together, the event raised nearly $10,000 for the purchase of lifesaving equipment for the Emergency Department at NRGH.