The United Way of Thunder Bay’s Novemburger Campaign has come and gone again, and once again has proven the city likes its burgers.
With 27 participating restaurants a total of 22,415 burgers were sold.
With two dollars from each burger and other donations more than $65,000 was raised.
“That’s amazing.”said Evergreen A United Neighbourhood Executive Director Linda Bruns when she heard of the final tally.
She says she did what she could to participate and had fun doing so throughout the month.
“What I loved going to, I tried seven, I mean my heart couldn’t take it and I can’t afford to eat that many burgers, but the spirit of cooperation, like when you came in the staff were so proud to sell you their burger.”
Novemburger campaign creator and organizer Erika Mikkola bought the event to the city five years ago and is amazed as to how far it has come.
“Just seeing over the last five years how this event has really grown in community. Especially this year it seemed like it was constantly talked about, which was really, really nice to see on social media and in the news and just out in the community.”
Each year there are awards for the fan favourite, the most burgers sold and the Top Novemburger of the Year, which was decided upon by Novemburger Ambassadors, who were tasked with sampling as many of the burgers for their expert opinion.
15 Novemburger Ambassadors chow down at the Prospector Burger Barn as Novemburger kicks off for its 5th year in support of the United Way of Thunder Bay (Adam Riley / Acadia Broadcasting)
This year The People’s Choice Novemburger went to:
1st – Beefcake’s Burger Factory
2nd – Dawson General Store
3rd – The Sal
Most Novemburger’s sold went once again to Prospector Burger Barn with 3,305 burgers sold, narrowly passing the runner up, Dawson General Store, by 45 Novemburgers.
Finally the coveted Top Novemburger of the Year went to Dawson General Store’s “Smokeshow”.
Representatives of The Sal and Beefcake’s Burger Factory flank Dawson General Store with their Top Novemburger of 2023 trophy, both the Sal and Beefcake’s took 2nd and 3rd place in the People’s Choice Awards (Adam Riley / Acadia Broadcasting)
Money raised from Novemburger will support food related programs and initiatives in Thunder Bay. Including the RFDA, Shkoday and Evergreen A United Neighbourhood.
Bruns says she was taken aback by the final totals and , for her organization, knows and is excited for the good it will provide.
“This is great because then I can tell the kids you know, ‘We’re gonna eat well next year.’ We do crowd friendly, kid friendly food but you know we’re doing 200 meals a week so this is a really big help.”
Since its inception in 2019 participating Novemburger restaurants have sold more than 54, 251 Novemburgers and raised over 148,000 for the United Way of Thunder Bay and the organizations it supports.
A new accolade welcomes customers at the entrance to Dawson General Store following its 2023 Novemburger win. (Adam Riley / Acadia Broadcasting)
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