COWICHAN VALLEY – March is all about two key events produced by the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce: Cowichan’s 2nd annual Dine Cowichan Festival and 2018 Black Tie Business Achievement Awards.
Modeled after the successful Dine Around and Stay in Town Victoria and Dine Out Vancouver Festival, Cowichan’s culinary festival featured 25 participating restaurants from across the Cowichan Valley. Dine Cowichan Festival kicked off February 23 and ran until March 11.
There was something for everyone in this year’s Festival – from pub food to farm-to-table, casual, ethnic and fine dining. Participating restaurants have already noted a significant increase in Dine Cowichan menus sold over last year, mainly because the public is more aware how the program works and what a great opportunity it is to try new eateries or return to old favourites. Everyone enjoyed fabulous food at fabulous prices.
The Dine Cowichan Festival is the brain-child of the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce which operates the Cowichan Regional Visitor Centre. It’s an excellent opportunity to support the restaurant sector of our growing membership base during a slower time for eateries post Valentine’s Day. It’s also an opportunity to showcase Cowichan’s burgeoning culinary scene.
The Chamber is also busy preparing for the 21st Black Tie Awards and Auction, April 7, 2018. These business achievement awards honour excellence and volunteerism in the Cowichan Valley Regional District. 2018 marks the greatest number of nominations ever received in Black Tie history – 155 nominations.
The most popular categories are: Customer Service accounting for 35 per cent of all nominations received, Business Achievement 1 – 10 Employees make up 18 per cent of nominations, and the Volunteer category with 15 per cent of all nominations received.
Now that the nominations are confirmed, the Chamber starts the process to determine the finalists – three finalists in eight categories. The finalists will then participate in an interview process, with the results announced at the Black Tie Award and Auction on April 7, 2018 at Brentwood College School. Event tickets are now available for purchase on the Chamber’s website.
Welcome new members to the Chamber: Stillhead Distillery, Cory Towriss Law, Shawnigan Dental Health Centre, NextGen Hearing Industrial, M2M Consulting Inc, Grace Point Projects, GT Hiring Solutions, Black & White Event Rentals, South Island Fireplace & Spas, Impeccable Jewellery, United Floors, Habitat for Humanity ReStore Duncan, Housecalls Painting and Decorating, Sybille Sanderson Collaborative Consulting, Hart Legal, Thread Setter Designs, Versa Sign, Timberwest and e3 Duncan.
Sonja Nagel is Executive Director of the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at manager@duncancc.bc.ca or 250-748-1111.