THUNDER BAY – When stacked on top of each other, the combined height of all the Novemburgers sold over the past five years would form five columns, each stretching to the tip of the CN Tower.
Albert Brulé, CEO at the United Way of Thunder Bay, thinks burger afficionados can match that total over the next 30 days alone.
That’s almost a third of the way to the summit of Mount Everest.
It’s ambitious, but Brulé says he believes the city will come through, especially with a record-breaking 41 restaurants taking part in this year’s fundraising event.
“Every year we’ve grown the number of restaurants and every year the number of burgers sold goes up accordingly. Last year, we sold over 22,000 burgers, with 27 restaurants. Now we have 41 restaurants, plus nine other communities participating,” Brulé said.
“I am absolutely confident that we will sell over 54,000. In fact, earlier this year, because it’s our 60th anniversary, I said ‘How about 60,000 burgers?’ So, get out there, eat those burgers, knowing that $2 from every burger sold goes back to the community to help vital programs and services.”
To help spread the word, once again the United Way of Thunder Bay has enlisted the help of some of Thunder Bay’s top influencers and burger ambassadors, who each had the chance on Friday to sample a Novemburger selection from one of the participating restaurants.
Damien Gilbert has taken part the past five years and says he’ll try his best to try a burger from as many restaurants as possible over the course of the event.
“I’ve been in it since the beginning and it’s such an important event because $2 from every burger goes toward the United Way. That’s over $100,000 now that’s been raised in that time,” Gilbert said.
Between him and his Novemburger partner, Andre Vaillant, Gilbert hopes to sample all 41 burgers between now and Nov. 30.
Gilbert said he’s done up to 30 different burgers in a year, and isn’t sure he could manage all 41, but he is a believer.
“It’s a tough task, but it could be done,” he said.
Vaillant, a big fan of peanut butter and jelly on his burger, said he takes part for one simple reasons.
“I love burgers, I love eating food. And I also like to show my followers the great cause the United Way is bringing to the city and helping to raise all this money,” Vaillant said.
Thunder Bay Television’s Hailey Perrault is also on the ambassador list, along with the likes of photographer Kay Lee, the RFDA’s Tanner Harris, Bruno Ceci and Bolly Olatundi, Ron and Sara Kanutski, Keyl McEachern, Danny Foresta, Andrew Sheare and Sidney Ulakovic.
Asked if she was going to try all 41, Perrault said she thinks she might be able to do it.
“But don’t quote me on that,” she said.
To help wash down one’s burger, Sleeping Giant Brewery has developed Novembrewger, a locally brewed root beer. Twenty-five cents from each can sold during the month will be donated to the United Way.
Participating restaurants include:
- Dawson General Store
- LU Outpost
- The Getaway - Gateway Casinos Thunder Bay
- The Sal
- Beefcake Burger Factory
- Nortenos Taqueria
- Red Lion Smokehouse
- Java Hut
- Neebing Roadhouse
- Burger Barn
- Da Vinci Centre Sports Bar
- Beaux Daddy's
- Outlaws Burgers & Fries
- Prospector Steakhouse / Brew Pub
- Monty's Joint
- The Paddy Wagon YQT
- The Industry Socialhouse
- Hodder Greeks
- Portside - Prince Arthur
- Anchor & Ore - Delta Hotels
- Lake & Spruce - Superior Inn
- Bight Restaurant & Bar
- El Tres
- Bonobos
- Cheers The Village Pub
- Joey's Seafood Restaurant
- The Eddy Restaurant
- Cliff Hanger Restaurant & Bar
- Daytona’s
- Station 22
- The Foundry
- Applebee's
- Madhouse
- Skal - Valhalla Inn
- Cajun Fuzion
- Aunt Sarah's 588 Café Nolalu
- Island Spice Fusion
- Slovak Legion
- Masala Grille
- Nook
- The Eatery 61
