New Westminster vegan Melissa Balfour wants to make New Westminster a vegan destination.
To get the word out about the city's bounty of vegan offerings, Balfour and Tourism New Westminster are running a contest called the Ultimate Vegan Getaway.
Participants will get the chance to win a vegan prize package valued at $450.
The prize includes one night at the Inn at the Quay, a Karmavore Vegan Shop basket, a meal from Wild Rice and other eateries, bike tour, yoga class and wine tasting.
"My goal with this contest is to get people (not just vegans) to go out and enjoy these incredible small businesses that we have in our backyard," Balfour said in an email. "I'm hoping by shining a light on them, that people will go and say hello and maybe pick up a few vegan items here and there."
Balfour describes herself as a culinary event planner and a food activist blogger.
Her blog is called The Hungry Taurus (thehun grytaurus.com).
Searching for a cause and a way to make a difference in the world, Balfour started the New Veganminster project as a way to boost vegan tourism in New West.
Anyone who's interested in participating can grab a New Veganminster Passport from Shine Wellness Space, Coming Home Café, Karmavore Vegan Shop or Crepe Des Amis.
The Ultimate Vegan Getaway Contest runs until April 30.
Participants are required to purchase an item of vegan food in order to receive a stamp in their passports.
For more information and for contest rules, visit www.thehungrytaurus. com.
A NEW BOSS AT THE STARLIGHT
There's a new boss at New Westminster's Starlight Casino.
Randy Sears was recently made general manager of the Queensborough casino, having made the move from the company's Grand Villa Casino property.
Sears was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, but he was no stranger to Canada and its passion for its favourite game.
When he was younger, Sears played junior hockey and often travelled to Burnaby to play against local talent.
He also attended hockey camp in Chilliwack.
After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam, Sears and his future wife, Heather, moved to Reno, Nevada, where Randy worked his way through college by working for Harrah's Casinos at night.
Thirty-four years later, Sears is still in the gaming industry.
His career has taken him to both ends of Nevada, (Reno and Las Vegas), to the California card room in Los Angeles, to Native American gaming in Palm Springs and finally back to Burnaby to work for Gateway Casinos and Entertainment, a media release states.
"I'm actually back home in the Pacific Northwest, close to Whistler, where I have skied many times, where I played hockey as a kid and where my family still lives in Seattle," Sears said in the release. "I especially love being on property.
"I have served several times as a corporate marketing officer, but there is nothing like actually being on property. Especially a property like Starlight, that is a home to the community as well as to the employees that I work with."
GET COOKING WITH WILD RICE
New Westminster's Wild Rice offers up some delicious happenings this month.
The restaurant is hosting shellfish-themed cooking classes on Monday, April 23 and April 30.
Executive Chef Todd Bright will show how to shuck kusshi oysters and make a red vinaigrette to go with it.
Second course will be pork and scallop steam buns with a dungeness crab aioli, followed by side-stripe shrimp with spinach and braised mushrooms.
Class will finish on a sweet note with chocolate szechuan mousse and brownies.
Classes start at 6: 30 p.m. and are $45, and include a cocktail. Call 778-397-0028 to book.
Wild Rice is also hosting a Pacific Breeze wine maker's dinner on Tuesday, April 17, at 6: 30 p.m.
Frank Gregus of Pacific Breeze and the team of Wild Rice New West will collaborate on a multicourse dinner with wine pairings.
Dinner is $75 per person. For more information or reservations, email Lisa at [email protected].
Do you have an item for Movers & Shakers? Know of an interesting business in the city that should be in the spotlight? Send ideas, tips and business stories to Niki by email to nhope@ royalcityrecord.com or by fax to 604-444-3460. Follow Niki on Twitter at www. twitter.com/nikimhope.
