“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart”.

It’s that heart and dedication for a demanding community volunteer role that led our March Burger of the Month Guest Chef in Red Deer, to look to support a local volunteer fire department.

Penhold Mayor Mike Yargeau provided the creative juices for the “Penhold Prime”.  It included an Alberta beef smash patty, slow roasted prime rib, beer battered tempura cheese curds, spinach and a house-made roasted garlic aioli on a garlic buttered brioche bun!  $2 from every burger sold will go directly to Mike’s local organization of choice the Penhold Volunteer Fire Department Association.

Mike knows how much volunteer firefighters mean to the communities they serve and how demanding the job can be, being ready to respond to the call of duty 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Over his years as Mayor, he has witnessed such dedication and passion from the volunteers of the Penhold Fire Department that he was keen to help them out.  Mike also notes the challenges volunteer departments face with funding, “while it would be nice to say small towns are able to fund everything they need, the reality is that the equipment and training needed to do the job is incredibly expensive and specialized. The Volunteer Firefighters Association raises money to help with ensuring that our fire department is ready for any emergency that might arise.”

The Penhold Volunteer Firefighters Association has a mission to support firefighters and raise funds to assist in the purchase of lifesaving rescue and medical supplies to supplement the equipment and training provided by the Penhold Volunteer Fire Department.  Currently the Association is focusing on raising funds to put towards the purchase of lighter, stronger and faster rescue and medical equipment.

Thanks to your support of our beloved Burger of the Month Program Mike helped us hand over $1862 to Penhold Volunteer Firefighters Association yesterday (Wednesday, April 5th).  Thanks to the amazing support we see from our guest’s month after month, we have had the opportunity to give back over $125,000 to local charities over the past 74 months!  THANK-YOU!

The April Burger of the Month in Red Deer is “Jeff’s Birria Burger”.  It includes slow Braised Alberta Beef cooked in house made consume, on a brioche bun dipped in consume and covered with melted mozza, with fresh cilantro and julienne red onions!  $2 from every burger sold will go directly towards Jeff’s cause of choice the Canadian Mental Health Association.

For more information contact:

Chris Caissie

Penhold Volunteer Firefighters Association

chriscaissie@shaw.ca

Mike Yargeau

RD March BOTM Guest Chef

403.886.4567

myargeau@townofpenhold.ca

Kim Kay

Cilantro and Chive

403.597.2127

kim@cilantroandchive.ca

Penhold Mayor Mike Yargeau helped us hand over the funds raised from his “Penhold Prime” Burger tonight (Wednesday, April 5^th).  A total of $1862 for the Penhold Volunteer Fire Department Association.

Penhold Mayor Mike Yargeau served as Guest Chef in Red Deer for the month of March.  His “Penhold Prime” included an Alberta beef smash patty, slow roasted prime rib, beer battered tempura cheese curds, spinach and a house-made roasted garlic aioli on a garlic buttered brioche bun!  $2 from every burger sold will go directly to Mike’s local organization of choice the Penhold Volunteer Fire Department Association.

“Life is a struggle, and sometimes all it takes is one person to truly see you and connect with you to give you confidence again.” – Burger of the Month Guest Chef Jenna Goldade

Jenna Goldade, co-creator of Bull Skit Comedy, an improvisational theatre group in Red Deer hopped onto our stage as Guest Chef at our Red Deer location in February.  Her “Funny Bone” burger included a Louisiana fried chicken breast with tempura cauliflower bites, topped with our house-made signature cheese sauce, Doritos chips, and shredded lettuce on a garlic buttered brioche bun skewered with a cherry tomato!  $2 from every burger sold is going directly to Jenna’s local charity of choice, Vantage Community Services.

Vantage Community Services helps youth, adults and families by providing counselling, group care for youth, life skills training, and drop-in centre for youth experiencing homelessness.  Their mission is to build capacity in people by creating opportunities and instilling hope and confidence.

Jenna is a big believer in organizations where people can seek help either through support or therapy “life is a struggle, and sometimes all it takes is one person to truly see you and connect with you to give you confidence again.  Improv is a skill I have learned, and it has helped me adapt, connect, and create relationships with people. Bull Skit Comedy has been a place for people to find their people. I wanted an organization that shared that core belief.”

Thanks to your support of our beloved Burger of the Month Program Jenna helped us hand over $1030 to Vantage Community Services today (Wednesday, March 8th).  Thanks to the amazing support we see from our guest’s month after month, we have had the opportunity to give back over $125,000 to local charities over the past 73 months!  THANK-YOU!

The March Burger of the Month in Red Deer is the “Penhold Prime”, created in collaboration with local Guest Chef and Mayor of Penhold Mike Yargeau!  It’s an Alberta beef smash patty, slow roasted prime rib, beer battered tempura cheese curds, spinach and a house-made roasted garlic aioli on a garlic buttered brioche bun!  $2 from every burger sold will go directly to Mike’s local organization of choice the Penhold Volunteer Fire Department Association.

For more information contact:

Morgan Hanson

Vantage Community Services

403.340.8995

mhanson@vantagecommunityservices.ca

Jenna Goldade

RD Feb BOTM Guest Chef

lol@bullskitcomedy.com

Kim Kay

Cilantro and Chive

403.597.2127

kim@cilantroandchive.ca

L-R: Cilantro and Chive Co-Owner Kim Kay, Vantage Community Services CEO Robecca Chahine, February Burger of the Month Guest Chef Red Deer Jenna Goldade

Local Guest Chef Jenna Goldade co-created the “Funny Bone” burger which landed on our Red Deer menus for the month of February.  It included a Louisiana fried chicken breast with tempura cauliflower bites, topped with our house-made signature cheese sauce, Doritos chips, and shredded lettuce on a garlic buttered brioche bun skewered with a cherry tomato!  $2 from every burger sold is going directly to Jenna’s local charity of choice, Vantage Community Services.

The majority of us have been touched by cancer, in fact over 1.5 million people in Canada are living with or beyond cancer.  Cancer hits close to home for our January Burger of the Month Guest Chef in Red Deer, Benjamin Bodmer, who was keen to see burger proceeds support the Canadian Cancer Society.

Benjamin’s “Meat Mountain” burger included two Alberta Beef smash patties, Monterey jack cheese, house slow roasted chipotle BBQ pulled pork, two strips of peppered bacon, topped with house slaw, served on a garlic buttered brioche bun.  $2 from every burger sold goes directly to the Canadian Cancer Society!

Having lost his father, grandfather and grandmother all to cancer when he was young, Ben knew he wanted to support the Canadian Cancer Society and their work to fund cancer research, power a national support system to ensure no one faces cancer alone, and help create health policies to make life better for Canadians affected by cancer.

The Canadian Cancer Society knows their investments into research are making a difference “today about 64% of Canadians diagnosed with cancer will survive at least 5 years after their diagnosis.  This is up from the 25% in the 1940’s when the Canadian Cancer Society began funding research.  This improvement is due to advances in early detection and more precise, less damaging ways to deliver surgery, radiotherapy and drug therapy”.

Thanks to your support of our beloved Burger of the Month Program Benjamin helped us hand over $1032 to the Canadian Cancer Society today (Thursday, February 16th).  Thanks to the amazing support we see from our guest’s month after month, we have had the opportunity to give back over $120,000 to local charities over the past 72 months!  THANK-YOU!

The February Burger of the Month in Red Deer is the “Funny Bone”, created in collaboration with local Guest Chef Jenna Goldade!  It includes a Louisiana fried chicken breast with tempura cauliflower bites, topped with our house-made signature cheese sauce, Doritos chips, and shredded lettuce on a garlic buttered brioche bun skewered with a cherry tomato!  $2 from every burger sold is going directly to Jenna’s local charity of choice, Vantage Community Services.

For more information contact:

Benjamin Bodmer

Jan BOTM Guest Chef RD

benjamin@cilantroandchive.ca

587.272.2880

Kim Kay

Cilantro and Chive

403.597.2127

kim@cilantroandchive.ca

(L-R: Red Deer January Burger of the Month Guest Chef Benjamin Bodmer, Cilantro and Chive Red Deer General Manager Sheldon Priestman, and Cilantro and Chive Co-Owner Kim Kay)

Local Guest Chef Benjamin Bodmer provided the creative inspiration for the “Meat Mountain” which included two Alberta Beef smash patties, Monterey jack cheese, house slow roasted chipotle BBQ pulled pork, two strips of peppered bacon, topped with house slaw, served on a garlic buttered brioche bun.  $2 from every burger sold goes directly to Ben’s charity of choice, the Canadian Cancer Society!

“A band is not proud because it performs well; it preforms well because it is proud.” – George Parks.

That sentiment holds true as there was plenty to march on about in December with the “Royal Breakfast Burger” at our Red Deer location in support of the Red Deer Royals!

Local Guest Chef Chris Windrim provided the inspiration for the burger which included two Alberta Beef smash patties, melted Swiss cheese, seared shaved ham, house-made bacon jam and smoky ketchup with a sunny fried egg and tomato skewer on a garlic buttered brioche bun.  $2 from every burger sold is going directly to Chris’s organization of choice, the Red Deer Royals Marching Band!

For Chris he was keen to give back to an organization that gave him so much while growing up in Red Deer “it’s where my passion for community was ignited since all members are ambassadors for our city and carry the torch around the world.  It’s where I discovered how lucky we are to be Canadian and that even I can make a difference.  It’s where I met my wife and many lifelong friends.  I’m giving back to them so the next generation can hopefully have the same opportunity that I did”.

The Red Deer Royals’ roots in Red Deer date back to 1902, more formally as an organization in 1968.  The mission of the Red Deer Royals Concert and Marching Show Band is to facilitate an environment of musicianship, learning, friendship and mentoring for musicians and colour guard ages 12-21of Central Alberta and surrounding communities.  The band promotes musicianship, leadership, teamwork, community service and pride.  The Royals will use this donation to help the band fund members through their Adopt-a-Royal fund.    Their current 80 members are looking forward to sharing their music this summer as they travel to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island!

Thanks to your support of our beloved Burger of the Month Program Chris helped us hand over $1046 to the Red Deer Royals last night (Wednesday, January 18th).  Thanks to the amazing support we see from our guest’s month after month, we have had the opportunity to give back over $120,000 to local charities over the past 71 months!  THANK-YOU!

The January Burger of the Month in Red Deer is the “Meat Mountain”, created in collaboration with local Guest Chef Benjamin Bodmer!  It includes two Alberta Beef smash patties, Monterey jack cheese, house slow roasted chipotle BBQ pulled pork, two strips of peppered bacon, topped with house slaw, served on a garlic buttered brioche bun.  $2 from every burger sold goes directly to Ben’s charity of choice, the Canadian Cancer Society!

For more information contact:

Danette Smithson

Board President

Red Deer Royals

403.392.0112

president@reddeerroyals.com 

Chris Windrim

Dec BOTM Guest Chef RD

cwindrim@reddeerchamber.com

403.347.4491

Kim Kay

Cilantro and Chive

403.597.2127

kim@cilantroandchive.ca

Local Guest Chef Chris Windrim provided the creative inspiration for the burger which included two Alberta Beef smash patties, melted Swiss cheese, seared shaved ham, house-made bacon jam and smoky ketchup with a sunny fried egg and tomato skewer on a garlic buttered brioche bun.  $2 from every burger sold is going directly to Chris’s organization of choice, the Red Deer Royals Marching Band!