United Way of Thunder Bay kicks off the biggest Novemburger yet
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by
Firedog
Over 40 restaurants to take part in the month-long campaign.
Thunder Bay, ON, Friday, November 1, 2024 – Novemburger is back for another year, and 2024 is shaping up to be the biggest year yet! November 1st marks the kickoff for United Way of Thunder Bay’s tastiest campaign.
Novemburger, presented by TBay Modular Floors, brings together the power of food and the power of giving back; local eateries dream up a unique burger creation to sell for the month in a friendly battle of the burgers. At the end of the month, one of these spectacular burger creations will emerge victorious as Thunder Bay’s Top Novemburger of the Year, as voted by Novemburger Ambassadors. Burgers will be sold throughout the month of November with $2 from each burger sold donated to the United Way.
“It’s that time of year again! Novemburger is back!” says local realtor and Novemburger Chef de Mission, Erika Mikkola. “It’s truly heartwarming to see how much this campaign has grown and how passionately our community rallies around this event. This year, we have more restaurants than ever before – 41 to be exact! Not to mention, we’ve got some exciting campaign updates and additions this year. Let’s eat!”
The record-breaking number of restaurants isn’t the only exciting expansion this year – Novemburger 2024 is going national. Nine additional United Ways from across the country will be launching campaigns of their own, under the guidance of United Way of Thunder Bay.
The campaign kickoff was held this morning at The Outpost on the Lakehead University campus. In attendance were participating restaurants, Novemburger Ambassadors, sponsors, friends, and burger lovers, including owner of TBay Modular Floors and Novemburger’s presenting sponsor, Al Sebastian.
Says Al; “I’m delighted to be participating in Novemburger again this year. Last year’s burgers will be tough to beat, but I know that this year’s restaurants have been busy preparing masterpieces! This campaign is a win for restaurants, foodies, and the community. What better way to give back than eating delicious burgers?”
Throughout the month, community members can rate what they ate by voting online for their favourite Novemburger. At the end of the month, the three burgers with the most votes will be crowned People’s Choice Novemburgers. Participants can also access a Novemburger Passport which allows them to keep track of how many burgers they’ve tried. Those who try five or more have the chance to become a Novemburger Ambassador next year.
Says United Way of Thunder Bay CEO, Albert Brulé; “Novemburger is about the food, yes, but more than that, it’s about coming together for a common cause. Every year, we’re astounded by the passion and dedication we see from community members, and we’re so grateful to everyone who comes out to support. Last year alone, we raised over $65,000 to support local food programs – a feat we could never achieve without the support of our partners, sponsors, and community members.”
New to Novemburger this year is a delicious partnership with Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. – a non-alcoholic root beer called Novembrewger. The partnership was announced at an exclusive Novemburger Tasting Party on October 22nd where attendees had the opportunity to sample the beverage. The Novembrewger will be available at several participating restaurants, as well as select stores, and 25 cents from each can sold will be donated to United Way of Thunder Bay.
The Novemburger Voucher Program will return, providing local businesses with Novemburger vouchers to give to their customers. Novemburger @ Work, which invites workplaces to order burgers for a staff luncheon as part of a workplace campaign, will also be available.
Novemburger isn’t just a time for taste testing, however. The campaign aims to give back to the community, providing support to local organizations through the United Way with special emphasis on food related service providers, such as the Dew Drop Inn, the Regional Food Distribution Association, various food banks, emergency food cupboards, and many other programs that provide food to individuals, children, youth, families and seniors in need.
Novemburger runs until the end of the month, when the Top Novemburger of the Year will be declared, People’s Choice Novemburgers will be announced, and Most Novemburgers Sold will be tallied.
To learn more, visit www.novemburgeruwaytbay.ca
