On Thursday, September 24, from 6:30 – 9pm, the 2nd Annual Bowen Island International Wine Festival will be back in full swing.
This event, which proved to be a sold-out success last year, is sure to raise the bar this year. This festival is not only an opportunity to engage with some of Vancouver and Bowen Island’s most knowledgeable wine experts, but also to raise funds for a worthy Island organization.
Paul Rickett, manager of Bowen Beer and Wine Cellar, has invited 10 Vancouver-based agencies, all of whom import wines from all over the world. This year, guests will have the opportunity to taste more than 50 delicious wines from countries such as Italy, New Zealand, France and Argentina. There will also be wines from the Pacific Northwest including BC, Oregon and California.
Certainly, a wine tasting wouldn’t be complete without delectable culinary offerings to go with it. Again this year, Bowen local and Bowen Children’s Centre alumni parent Park Heffelfinger will be there with a mouth-watering selection of food from his award-winning Memphis Blues BBQ House along with Julie Cree and Christophe Langlois from Artisan Eats who will please palates with an array of wine-friendly nibbles.
All of this is in support of the Bowen Island Children’s Centre, a non-profit organization that has been a part of Bowen Island since 1970. BCC encompasses Bowen Island Preschool, Community Daycare, the After School Club and Family Place. With all of these indispensible programs, the Bowen Children’s Centre relies on the community for support. Last year the festival raised enough money to purchase supplies and equipment, do maintenance and upgrades to the playground, put in a garden and composting program, and provide ongoing professional development for staff.
The event got its start back in 2012, when Sujinder Juneja, a communications professional and wine expert, held an intimate wine tasting at Artisan Eats. The idea was to raise money for the centre and to fulfill the Juneja family’s volunteer hours. The next year saw Rickett join Juneja, adding additional wines to the table. Both events were a huge success, which led to an expanded and sought-after wine tasting event and fundraiser.
Juneja describes this year’s festival as “an event for wine lovers and friends, where we can engage our community to support one of Bowen’s most important institutions.”
The festival is now run by Juneja, Rickett and Heffelfinger, with critical support from Bowen Children’s Centre volunteers such as Dayna Purdy and Andrea Bastin. Many of the volunteers no longer have children in the centre but are so passionate about what BCC does that they continue to be part of fundraisers. The event wouldn’t be possible without people such as Dan Parkin and Julia McLaughlin who donate space at the charming Lodge at the Old Dorm and the indispensible Peter King who provides free bus transportation to and from the event. The Office @ Artisan Square sponsored the printing of posters and tickets.
Last year the festival was sold-out and organizers expect nothing short of the same for this year. Tickets are only $50 per person with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to the Bowen Children’s Centre. Tickets can be purchased exclusively at Phoenix and at the Bowen Beer & Wine Cellar. With no parking available on the street in front of The Lodge, there will be return bus transportation from BICS parking lot to the venue. A safe ride home will also be provided for those who choose to fully enjoy their wine versus using the spittoon.
