Last year’s Fresh Roots inaugural long table dinner was held inside the hallways of David Thompson Secondary School due to inclement weather. This year, Mother Nature cooperated and the sophomore schoolyard Harvest Party was successfully staged outside on dry land next to its education farm — a school market garden. A fortunate 140 guests snapped up tickets to the sold-out fundraising dinner in support of the non-profit’s effort to grow community through good food.
Sprouted in 2009, Fresh Roots founders Ilana Labow, Gray Oron and Marc Schutzbank greeted attendees to the multi-course family-style feast curated by chefs Karima Chellouf and Kym Nguyen, incorporating ingredients sourced from schoolyard farms. Fresh Roots manages four edible educational gardens on school property in the Vancouver, Delta and Coquitlam School Districts. Through experiential learning, students get to appreciate the full cycle of how their food arrives on their table and gain an appreciation of good food.
This year’s al fresco dinner benefited Fresh Roots SOYL initiative, an innovative seven-week summer leadership and empowerment program. High school students tend to and cultivate the ½ acre schoolyard farm; develop skills in growing, cooking and selling the fruits of their labour at farmers markets. Through their time with SOYL, students develop a greater connection to themselves, their community and their local food system, says Schutzbank. Proceeds from the outdoor garden party will employ fifty summer students in the SOYL program next year.
Fresh Roots co-founder Marc Schutzbank and youth empowerment manager Rosalind Sadowski fronted the second annual Schoolyard Harvest Party.
David Thompson Secondary alumni Winnie Kwan, former SOYL student participant turned program coordinator, and Ilana Labow, welcomed 140 guests to the schoolyard long table fundraising dinner.
Christine Weston, farm manager, and Gray Oron, Fresh Roots co-founder, has seen their year-round program grow. Fresh Roots now manages four edible educational gardens on school property in the Vancouver, Delta and Coquitlam School Districts.
UBC Land Food Systems Dean Ricky Yada and Assistant Dean Tracey London took in the alfresco family style dinner at David Thompson Secondary School in East Vancouver.
Scotiabank’s senior brass Sandra Boyce and Larry Clements came out to the schoolyard farm to enjoy a memorable meal and learn more of the Fresh Roots program.
Indian Summer Festival Opening Night Gala
HIT AND MYTH: The Indian Summer Festival is a sure sign that summer has arrived in Vancouver. The 10-day celebration of music, art and ideas has quickly become a cultural mainstay of the city. Now in its eighth year, the vibrant, colourful, multi-arts jamboree continues to push the boundaries of convention offering a unique program — 25 free and ticketed events in all — packed with creativity, diversity and inclusiveness.
The brainchild of husband and wife team of Sirish Rao and Laura Byspalko, their vision was on full display at the festival’s opening celebrations at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre. The space was transformed into a brilliant party palace where guests were taken on a gastronomic journey around the world. A sold-out party for the eighth consecutive year, the couple along with event chair celebrity chef Vikram Vij welcomed a diverse group of chefs to showcase their talents around this year’s theme of mythmaking, examining 10 centuries of storytelling and human imagination.
Notables making the scene: Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan, and SFU President Andew Petter; they were joined by aspiring glad-handing politicos Shauna Sylvester and Hector Bremner. Also spotted were a host of award-winning musicians, novelists and visual artists participating in this year’s festivities. They included composer Rup Sidhu, musician Mohammed Assani, explorer Wade Davis, Musqueam weaver Debra Sparrow and Indian Summer Festival artist in residence Sandeep Johal.
Sparrow collaborated with Johal on a tapestry that covers the Pause Pavilion, the festival’s first outdoor programming hub in Vanier Park. Designed by Russian designer Alsu Sadrieva, the outdoor space — winner of a TED 2017 design competition conceptualized as a place to gather, reflect and interact — played host to a series of cross cultural workshops, talks and performances. The Indian Summer Festival runs until July 15.
Celebrity chef Vikram Vij welcomed community leader Robin Dhir to the opening night festivities. Vij will curate Dhir’s Night of Miracles Dinner on Nov. 3 benefitting B.C. Children’s Hospital benefit.
Writer Amitava Kumar helped composer Rup Sidhu spin some tunes at the Indian Summer Festival opener held at the Roundhouse Community arts and Recreation Centre.
Artistic director Sirish Rao welcomed Musqueam Weaver Debra Sparrow and Indian Summer Festival artist in residence Sandeep Johal to the opening festivities of the annual celebration of music, art and ideas.
Managing director Laura Byspalko kibitzed with SFU president Andrew Petter. SFU is a founding partner and continues to be a major sponsor of the Indian Summer Festival.
Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson were among the notables spotted at the kick off party.
Science World’s Pairing Event
SCIENCE FARE: Building on the fundraising success of its Science of Cocktails event, Science World held its inaugural food and wine event, Pairings. It was billed as a gourmet evening with a dash of science.
Exploring the fascinating science behind food and wine pairings, the science centre, in partnership with La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs and select wineries from B.C.’s Golden Mile Bench, invited some of the province’s top restaurants and chefs including Will Lew (Notch 8), Clement Lau (Maison Clement) Jeff Van Geest (Miradoro) to participate in the culinary science experiment.
Master of Wine Rhys Pender guided attendees on their gastronomic journey speaking in tongue of tannins and alcohol competing with the intensity of food. Between memorable sips and tasty bites, guests feasted on a silent auction, hands-on Science World activities and an exclusive viewing of Science World’s latest exhibition The Science Behind Pixar. The inaugural event would cook up $32,000 for Science World’s Super Science Club, an after-school program that aims to inspire underserved children to develop a long-term interest in science and technology.
The program now reaches 12 schools and a thousand students across Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, says Science World fundraiser Shellina Lakhdhir.
OUT OF THIS WORLD: Representing Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and Notch 8 Restaurant, Will Lew’s Mars creation was a visual and tasty hit with Science World attendees.
Curator Jo-Ann Coggan and Buzz Light Year greeted party guests as they toured Science World’s latest exhibition The Science Behind Pixar.
Master of Wine Rhys Pender hosted the Pairing event benefitting Meredith Cochran’s Super Science Club, an after-school program that aims to inspire underserved children to develop a long-term interest in science and technology.
One of the newest Okanagan wineries, Kane Morgan of Rust Wine Company was among a select group from B.C.’s Golden Mile Bench that participated in the food and wine shindig.
Science World fundraiser Shellina Lakhdhir welcomed Inspire Health CEO Faye Wightman to the foodie fete. The inaugural Pairings fundraiser cooked up $32,000 for Science World’s field trip program that enables 1,000 inner-city kids from Vancouver and the Fraser Valley to participate.