COMOX VALLEY – It’s back!
After two years in hibernation due to the Covid Pandemic, the BC Seafood Festival is back, returning to the Comox Valley, as organizers hope to catch a new wave of visitors to taste and see the region’s seafood products.
Formerly known as the BC Shellfish Festival, the event, scheduled for June 3-4, is now put together by a volunteer, industry-led Board of Directors and will be welcoming once visitors from around BC once again. This will be the 14th anniversary of the event.
“Prior to the pandemic the event had grown to become the largest seafood festival in western Canada,” states Festival Board President Brian Yip of Fanny Bay Oysters. “This June a modified festival will return featuring dinners, happy hours, competitions, and master to once again celebrate and drive awareness around award-winning BC seafood producers, Chefs and experiences.
“Once again we’ll be able to showcase the industry, growers, harvesters and commercial fishers alongside amazing local BC Chefs and shuckers.”
The Comox Valley produces over 50 percent of British Columbia’s shellfish and the most oysters in Canada.
Directors of the BC Seafood Festival Board have received an amazing response to the restart of the festival in terms of ticket sales and sponsorship. Sponsors include CIBC Wood Gundy – Chambers Advisory Group, Island Savings, Flying Fresh Air Freight, Garland Canada, Air Canada, Mindset Wealth, RE/MAX Ocean Pacific Realty, MNP LLP as well as producers including Fanny Bay Oysters, Macs Oysters, Gindera Sablefish, BC Spot Prawns, Wild Pacific Halibut, Sea Forest and Geoduck Underwater Harvesters Association plus other BC beverage producers and other partners.
“Like many festivals, the BC Seafood Festival has been impacted by the pandemic, as has the BC and Canadian Seafood Industry,” Yip adds. “Supply chain, staffing challenges as well as restaurant closures have impacted the sector significantly.
The provincial government is supporting the event through the BC Fairs Festival and Event Fund, and there is strong support from the Town of Comox.
The festival is also pleased to welcome back to the 2022 event Ocean Wise, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans within the Education Zone alongside Chefs and Culinary Schools including North Island College, Vancouver Island University, the North Island Chefs Association, coupled with Chefs of the BC Culinary team that is preparing for world competitions in Europe this summer. An extensive list of producers and producer associations are collaborating with the events to support increased awareness around the sustainable seafood industry.
The Festival will again include competitions like the Best Caesar in Town, the Chowder Challenge and the Fanny Bay Oysters Shucking Competition.
Headlined by the Gala Dinner, hosted by the BC Shellfish Growers Association June 3 and the famous “Baked n’ Boiled Kitchen Party” June 4 at the Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park, events include:
- Wild About Halibut! Wild Pacific Halibut Demo and Lunch
- Shucked! Oyster Bar Happy Hour
- Bounty! A Brunch Seafood Cookout
There are also a series of nine, cook-along MasterClasses which features exciting BC Chefs and produces including:
- The World Is Your Oyster
- Ceviche & Sparkling
- Seafood Mystery
- Follow Me Cocktails
- Happy Endings Geoduck
- Discover Sablefish: The ‘Wagyu’ fish of the Ocean
- Wholey Halibut
- Get Kelp: Sea Veggie
- Prawn To Be Wild!
As part of the rebuild of the Festival, there will not be a general admission gate passes. Event ticket sales have been brisk, so early reservations are recommended. For tickets and details, visit www.bcseafoodfestival.com
