Top, Mark Stockford, the general manager of Hub International in Kindersley, puts on the finishing touch to a serving of citrus lime grilled Mahi Mahi at the fine dining event on Jan. 12 at St. Jospeh’s Catholic Parish. Above, Barry Andrew of Hub International, who is the head chef for the annual event, turns apple maple-infused pork tenderloin in the oven.
Kenneth Brown
of The Clarion
An annual evening of fine food and entertainment served up by a local business is helping to support the athletes involved with Special Olympics Kindersley.
Each year the Kindersley branch of Hub International sponsors an evening of fine dining and proceeds from the event have gone to a different charitable cause in the community. Special Olympics Kindersley & District is this year’s beneficiary of proceeds.
The fine dining event was held on Jan. 12 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Parish. A room of approximately 80 people enjoyed a four-course meal and live music performed by Matt Davis and Chad Martfeld. Barry Andrew of Hub International is the master chef behind the four-course meal.
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A team of volunteers helped to prepare the dishes, serve and bus the tables, clean up in the kitchen after the meal and tear down the dining room. The group of volunteers was from Hub International, Special Olympics and the community.
The menu featured a mixed green beet salad with pomegranate, cranberry and raspberry vinaigrette to start, a cream of asparagus and celery soup, the choice of entrees including either citrus lime grilled Mahi Mahi with mango salsa or apple maple infused pork tenderloin with wild mushroom sauce, and a dessert called Special O Cheesecake. The entrees were served with rice pilaf, carrots and balsamic green beans.
Andrew and his business partner Mark Stockford welcomed people to the event before dinner was served. Andrew thanked people for taking the time to support the fifth annual fine dining event held by the business formerly known as Kindersley Insurance. He said the event has worked out well every year.
“This is our fifth year and every year we seem to sell it out,” he said, recognizing the success of previous events. “We sure appreciate you guys showing up and we hope that we provide you with a meal that you appreciate.”
He said the Special Olympics Kindersley committee does a fabulous job and proceeds from the event would help the organization with a big event coming up in Regina. The event has raised money for the Kindersley Legion, West Central Crisis and Family Support Centre, West Central Abilities and Friends of Kinsmen Park.
There were envelopes on tables and people were asked to place any gratuities in the envelopes. Andrew said the gratuities would go straight to support the cause and people could leave their information if they wanted tax receipts.
Andrew said the business was acquired by Hub International in February, but little has changed other than the name. He told people that Danah White, the vice-president of Saskatchewan operations for Hub International, made the trip to Kindersley to help at the event.
Korinne Lott, the community co-ordinator for Special Olympics Saskatchewan, was also in attendance to deliver greetings for the organization. Lott told people she usually works behind scenes, so speaking engagements are rare.
She provided insight into the cause and said Kindersley is one of 17 communities in Saskatchewan with a Special Olympics program. She commended the work of volunteers and coaches with Special Olympics Kindersley. The organization provides more than just sport programming to athletes with intellectual disabilities.
“It’s not just a single event,” Lott said, recognizing that the organization plays a big role in the lives of athletes. “It is everyday programming (and) weekly programming, and we’re really helping to instill confidence (and) self-esteem.”
In an interview after the event, Andrew said he believes the event went well. He said at the end of the day, the business gets to support the cause by helping to send a group of local Special Olympics athletes to winter games.
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