Chefs say Cheese!

This week, local chefs participating in the “Chefs for the Pier” fundraising evening on Sept 12 joined Darrell Jones, President, Save-on-Foods, with their shopping lists. Only 50 pairs of tickets left at friendsofthepier.com

CHEFS FOR THE PIER

Tasting Menu September 12 Raising Funds to Re-Build White Rock Pier

Release: July 11, 2019

White Rock, BC: Award-winning chef and restaurateur Vikram Vij and Top Chef Canada winner Matthew Stowe are pulling together a team of local chefs on the Semiahmoo Peninsula to produce “Chefs for the Pier”, a unique chef’s tasting menu evening on Thursday, September 12th that will raise funds to help re-build the iconic White Rock Pier.

The 300-person event at Oceana PARC in White Rock is part of the Friends of the Pier fundraising campaign with $300 tickets going on sale today, July 11, at friendsofthepier.com.

“For our team of chefs, it’s one way we can connect our community, enjoy some amazing food and help raise funds to re-build our pier,” said Vij, owner of My Shanti at Morgan Crossing. “Every one of the chefs who are donating their time to this special evening will feature a signature dish that’s bound to impress, and I can guarantee no one will go home hungry.”

Chef Shaughn Halls of Oceana PARC said Chefs for the Pier is also a terrific way to showcase the products and pride of local farmers and wineries.

“We have some incredible farmers and suppliers right here in this part of the Lower Mainland, so creating a series of small plates that gives our guests a taste of what’s grown in our own backyard is something every chef enjoys doing,” added Halls. “Great food for a great cause is always a terrific combination, so Chefs for the Pier will be a very special evening.”

Chief Harley Chappell of the Semiahmoo First Nation will also be a part of the fundraising evening.

“In every culture, ours included, food is about much more than eating,” said Chief Chappell. “An evening like Chefs for the Pier is all about bringing the community together and I’m looking forward to being part of this important event for our community and region.”

The list of chefs and restaurants participating in Chefs for the Pier includes:

• Chef Vikram Vij, My Shanti
• Chef Matthew Stowe, Joey Restaurant Group
• Chief Harley Chappell, Semiahmoo First Nation
• Chef Shaughn Halls, Oceana PARC
• Chef Jan Wait, Jan’s on the Beach
• Chef Kayla Dhaliwal, Glass House Estate Winery
• Chef Jennie Silk, Uli’s Restaurant
• Chef Josiah Tam, Barrique Kitchen & Wine Bar
• Chef Brian Cho, Sapporo Kitchen
• Chef Soo Min Lee, Sapporo Kitchen
• Chef Joel Villanueva, Primo’s Mexican Grill
• Chef Christophe Bonzon, Chez Christophe

“Chefs for the Pier will feature some of the incredible chefs living and working in our community. Many Chamber members are also coming to the table as generous in-kind partners to help make the evening possible,” explained Ritu Khanna of the South Surrey and White Rock Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Friends of the Pier Fundraising Committee. “For instance, the event is being held in the dining facilities of Oceana PARC, a brand new luxury retirement building, before their guests move in. Save-On-Foods has stepped up to supply all the ingredients and wine for our chefs. The local support we’ve received from businesses and individuals only reinforces how much the community is getting behind the re-building of the pier. All of us at Friends of the Pier are so appreciative of our participating chefs, restaurants and other businesses. It definitely has the all the makings of a wonderful evening.”

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Twitter/Facebook/Instagram: @PierFriends
#HereForThePier
friendsofthepier.com

Media contact:

Ritu Khanna
South Surrey and White Rock Chamber of Commerce
Tel: 604-536-6844
Email: executivedirector@sswrchamber.ca

“Friends of the Pier” sells first 100 Planks for the Pier

1200 Planks Still for Sale

June 12, 2019

White Rock, BC: The Friends of the Pier Volunteer Fundraising Committee today announced that it has sold its first 100 planks for the new White Rock Pier. Planks sell for $1000 each and will carry the name of the donor, all part of the committee’s efforts to raise some $2 million towards the cost of building a new White Rock Pier.

“We’ve hit our first milestone with 100 planks sold, and we’ve only just started our marketing campaign,” said Bob Bezubiak, manager of the TD Bank in White Rock and chair of the Friends of the Pier. “We’re ramping up our sales efforts now and we’re reaching out to businesses, realtors, service clubs, neighbourhoods and even schools and their PACs. Anyone can buy a plank and put their name on it as a way of showing their support and community spirit.”

Buying a plank for the pier is easy, with details at friendsofthepier.com.

“The pier was originally built in 1914, but the storm damage last December was so severe that the whole pier needs to be replaced to meet modern building standards and codes. But it will still have a wooden plank deck and that’s where buying a plank for the pier comes in. Every dollar from every plank goes towards building the pier because our volunteer committee has made sure there are no overhead or administrative costs associated with our fundraising.”

Bezubiak said plans are also underway for a special 300-person chefs tasting reception and fundraiser at Oceana Parc in September. The reception will feature signature dishes from local chefs and restaurants, including Vikram Vij of My Shanti and Matt Stowe of the Joey Restaurant Group and winner of the Food Network’s Top Chef Canada series. Tickets for “Plates for the Pier” go on sale the first week of July with details at friendsofthepier.com.

“Seeing White Rock and South Surrey coming out to support the rebuilding of the White Rock Pier speaks volumes about local community spirit,” added Bezubiak. “There’s plenty to do, but everyone knows how important the pier is to our community and region, and people want to be part of its rebuilding.”

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Twitter: @PierFriends
Facebook @PierFriends
Instagram: @PierFriends
#HereForThePier

friendsofthepier.com

Media contacts:

Bob Bezubiak, TD Bank
604 541 7100 ext.250
bob.bezubiak@td.com

TELUS gifts $22,000 through matching programs

Thanks to TELUS for their community support, gifting $22,000 for the pier through matching programs with the White Rock Youth Ambassadors, Laura’s Café Corner and a special TELUS PureFibre promotion.

“Friends of the Pier” organized to help rebuild White Rock landmark

“This is a chance for all of us to build something special for future generations”
– Bob Bezubiak, Friends of the Pier

May 2, 2019

White Rock, BC: White Rock’s community-based Friends of the Pier Fundraising Committee today unveiled plans to help the City of White Rock fund the replacement of the iconic White Rock pier over the next two years. Committee chair Bob Bezubiak of TD Bank said the community committee will help the city fund the rebuilding project’s shortfall, expected to be about $2 million.

“The estimated cost of rebuilding and replacing the 104-year-old pier is about $16.2 million, but even with insurance, potential contributions from other levels of government, and dipping into the city’s reserves, there is an estimated shortfall of about $2 million,” explained Bezubiak at today’s waterfront press conference. “One option would be for the City of White Rock to borrow the money, but we believe a better option is for all of us who are friends of the pier, and every generation that has enjoyed the pier over the years, to lend a hand and help out as a community.”

The volunteer committee is coordinating a variety of fundraising activities and will accept donations through Semiahmoo Rotary which can issue charitable tax receipts.

Members of the committee come from a variety of sectors and organizations, including the South Surrey and White Rock Chamber of Commerce, Semiahmoo Rotary, White Rock Business Improvement Association and White Rock Museum.

“The pier will be rebuilt to today’s engineering design standards using concrete and steel with a wooden deck that will retain the historic feel of the original pier,” explained Mayor Darryl Walker. “When the pier was damaged on December 20 last year by a hurricane force storm it was clear that we could not just patch or repair the existing wooden structure. Instead, we need to completely rebuild it to modern engineering and seismic standards, but it will still have the look and feel that every generation of visitors and residents have come to love.”

Initial fundraising efforts include:

• selling wooden planks for the new pier for $1000 each
• recruiting sponsors for the pier’s 16 decorative arches
• 200-person, celebrity chefs dinner at Oceana PARC in White Rock this September
• selling “Friends of the Pier” commemorative tee shirts
• summer-long “Buy-a-Beer-for-the-Pier” promotion at waterfront pubs and restaurants, and during “TD Concerts for the Pier”
• local artists turning 30 damaged pier planks into works of art for auction at the Landmark Uptown Gallery this Fall

In addition, individual donations of any amount can be made directly at friendsofthepier.com which also includes details of community fundraising events.

“Every single dollar we raise will go directly to rebuilding the pier,” added Bezubiak. “Our volunteer committee and Rotary have made sure that any administrative or overhead costs are completely covered, so we can target every dollar of every donation right to the new pier.”

Bezubiak encouraged businesses, organizations and individuals in White Rock and South Surrey to help out, including sending in their own fundraising ideas and suggestions.

“This is a real chance for all of us to pay it forward for every stroll and every picture ever taken on the pier,” said Bezubiak. “We have a lot of work to do, but there’s tremendous community support and people want to pitch in and make a difference. Just imagine being able to tell your kids and grandkids that you helped rebuild the new pier. This is all about community and what we can do together for our city and generations to come.”

Mayor Walker congratulated the fundraising committee for stepping up and involving the entire community. “Everyone was devastated by the storm damage, but we’re all committed to making the pier better than ever,” said Walker. “Our community and region are famous for working together to help out, and I want to thank the Friends of the Pier and all those who will step up and help us rebuild our pier over the next couple of years. It’s a chance for all of us to work together as we rebuild the pier, something that means so much to all of us.”

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Twitter: @PierFriends
Facebook @PierFriends
Instagram: @PierFriends
#HereForThePier

friendsofthepier.com

Media contacts:

Bob Bezubiak, TD Bank
604 541 7100 ext.250
bob.bezubiak@td.com

Norm Stowe, Landmark Premiere Properties
604 646 3556
nstowe@pacegroup.com