The Honourable Vic Toews, Member of Parliament for Provencher, presented five local food banks with a donation on behalf of the Chicken Farmers of Canada.
On June 12, 2012, Minister Toews’ Pesto Chicken Philly-Melt was awarded 1st place in the Everyone Wins with Canadian Chicken contest sponsored by the Chicken Farmers of Canada. The $10,000 first place prize was divided between the local food banks in Provencher and presented to them at a ceremony in New Bothwell.
Left to right: Vern Froese, Chicken Farmers of Canada; Jake Wiebe, Manitoba Chicken Producers; Ivan Balenovic, Bothwell Cheese; Vic Toews MP for Provencher; Hank Klassen, SE Helping Hands; Bev Simard, Lac du Bonnet and area Food Bank; Pat Rempel, Red River Valley Food Bank; Iris Swiderski, Lorette Food Bank
The prizes have been divided on a per capita basis, based on the size of the area that each of the food banks service. The five food banks located in the riding of Provencher are:
• South East Helping Hands $5,050
• Morris Food Bank $1,262.50
• Lorette Food Bank $1,262.50
• Springfield Food Bank $1,262.50
• Lac du Bonnet and area Food Bank $1,262.50
“This contest has done a wonderful job of raising the profile of local food banks during what is often a slow time for donations,” said Toews. “I am honoured that my Provencher Pesto Chicken Philly-Melt was judged to be the best of the recipes submitted by Members of Parliament from across Canada and I urge Canadians to consider making a donation to their local food bank.”
Minister Toews’ winning entry includes a home-grown featured ingredient, 2 year old Bothwell cheddar. A local Manitoba success story, Bothwell Cheese has been manufacturing a wide variety of cheeses since 1936 using only the freshest locally-produced milk.
The Everyone Wins with Canadian Chicken contest was organized by the Chicken Farmers of Canada, Maple Leaf, Food Banks Canada and the Hill Times. The contest received 72 entries from Members of Parliament from ridings across Canada, all of whom were competing for a donation to their local food banks and the chance for their recipe to be served at the 20th Annual Great Canadian Chicken BBQ in Ottawa on July 1st.
“While Canada’s economy is on the right track for recovery, there are families that access their local food banks for a helping hand,” said Toews. “I am thrilled to have been able to participate in an event that supports such a good cause.”
The 72 recipes will be compiled in a digital cookbook and made available at www.victoews.com and www.chicken.ca.
