If you are a BC wine lover, you probably visited Summerland and the Okanagan to enjoy the scenery, food, and wine, but we are now all thinking about the terrible tragedy with the Summerland forest fires. How can we help, no matter where we are across Canada? Here are a few suggestions, some of which have been emailed to me, and I am passing along to you.
From Town Hall Brands, this press release:
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[SUMMERLAND, BC] – As the Bald Range wildfire continues to impact Summerland and surrounding areas, people across British Columbia have been asking a simple question: How can we help? While firefighters, first responders, emergency personnel, volunteers and community members continue the urgent work of protecting people, homes and businesses, there is another meaningful way British Columbians can support Summerland right now and, in the weeks, and months ahead: use their purchasing power. Summerland is home to a vibrant community of farmers, growers, wineries, cideries, breweries, distilleries, restaurants, artists, makers, accommodation providers and independent businesses. Many of these businesses support local families and employ people who live in the community, including some who have been directly affected by the wildfire. Every purchase helps keep money moving through the local economy at a time when Summerland needs it most. |
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Six Ways for People to support Summerland:
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The message is simple: choose Summerland whenever and wherever you can. A bottle purchased at a local liquor store, a Summerland product ordered online, a gift card tucked away for a future visit or a social media post shared with friends may feel like a small gesture. Collectively, those actions can make a meaningful difference to the people and businesses navigating the effects of this wildfire. “Summerland is a quaint, friendly town bursting with great produce and products that we would love to introduce people to,” says Christine Coletta, Summerland resident and owner of Haywire and Garnet Valley Ranch wineries. ~~~ From Winemaker’s CUT: Throughout August, 100% of tasting fees and $2 from every bottle sold will be donated to wildfire relief efforts. To help you enjoy Winemaker’s CUT from home, we are also offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders throughout August. Every tasting, bottle, and order will help provide support to people and communities navigating the immediate impact of the wildfires. Thank you for keeping those affected in your thoughts and for standing with our community during this challenging time. Warmly, Winemaker’s CUT ~~~ The Canadian Red Cross has a Canadian Wildfire fund set up at this link. ~~~ From Okanagan Wine Festivals: As many of you know, wildfires are burning across BC right now and the Okanagan. This beautiful place we call home and the region whose wines we’ve spent years falling in love with, is directly in the path. As I write this, there are over 20,000 people displaced as a result of the Summerland wildfire that sparked last Friday, including winery members and one of our incredible Board of Directors. And multiple such fires are burning in the Valley. Our hearts are with every evacuee, every first responder, and every family and business navigating this right now. A WAY TO GIVE BACK TOGETHER Giving looks different for everyone, and if you’re looking for a way to give right now, I have one for you. If you’re able and willing, I’d love for you to make a donation of $20 or more to either the Central Okanagan Food Bank or Mamas for Mamas. Both are doing incredible work right now for evacuees and families in need. Send me a screenshot of your donation receipt and I‘ll give you $10 off your ticket at one of our Fall Festival events. This is a simple way that we, the Okanagan Wine Festival Society, can say thank you for showing up for a place we call home and a community that gives us so much, including the wines we all love. Step 1: Donate to the Central Okanagan Food Bank: www.cofb.org or Donate to Mamas for Mamas: www.mamasformamas.org Step 2: Share your receipt with us by responding to info@thewinefestivals.com or sending a DM on @okanaganwinefestival Step 3: I will send you a promo code for $10 off your ticket to either of our Fall Festival events. ~~~ Spacedog Wines:
From August 14-31, $2 from every tasting and $2 from every bottle sold at Spacedog Wines at District Wine Village will go to the BC Wildfire Relief Fund, supporting those impacted by the wildfires around Summerland.
~~~ Provence Marinaside:  Provence Marinaside will donate five percent from every Tomato Festival menu sold, retroactive to August 1, to the SOS Wildfire Response Fund, supporting communities affected by this year’s Okanagan wildfires. To help raise even more, we’ve also extended our Tomato Festival through mid-September. “The Okanagan has always held a special place at Provence Marinaside. Many of the wines on our list come from its vineyards, many of the ingredients we serve are grown there, and we’ve built lasting friendships with the growers, winemakers and producers who make the region so extraordinary. Every Tomato Festival menu celebrates the incredible farmers who produce some of British Columbia’s finest heirloom tomatoes. This year, every menu sold will also help support the people and communities working to recover from one of the province’s most challenging wildfire seasons,” says Provence Owner/Executive Chef Jean-Francis Quaglia. Recently the restaurant launched its own Private Label Brut Nature Sparkling Wine that was created in collaboration with Haywire Winery which is based in Summerland – the epicentre of the wildfire. “It was only a few weeks ago that we were celebrating the launch of the new wine with Haywire’s Christine Coletta and Andrew Raines, and now this. We had to help,” comments Provence Wine Director Joshua Carlson. “Every year I, and members of the Provence team, make wine-tasting visits to the Okanagan to learn what’s new and seek out treasures to add to our wine list.” ~~~ If you know of any other winery, restaurant, etc., that is offering to help our wildfire victims, please let me know and I will add them to this list. Thank you. |
