The 2020 Rotary Wine and Fine Food Festival which was scheduled for October 22nd in
Whitehorse has been cancelled. The annual event is the single largest fundraising event for the Rendezvous
Rotary club, raising about $35,000 for community service projects.
Whitehorse has been cancelled. The annual event is the single largest fundraising event for the Rendezvous
Rotary club, raising about $35,000 for community service projects.
The 2020 Rotary Wine and Fine Food Festival which was scheduled for October 22nd in
Whitehorse has been cancelled. The annual event is the single largest fundraising event for the Rendezvous
Rotary club, raising about $35,000 for community service projects.
Whitehorse has been cancelled. The annual event is the single largest fundraising event for the Rendezvous
Rotary club, raising about $35,000 for community service projects.
“Our Rotary club has made the very difficult decision to cancel this year’s event because of the COVID-19
pandemic,” said Rotary Wine Festival Chair Anne Kennedy. “October may seem far away but planning for the
event begins nearly a year ahead and we regretfully needed to decide this month to cancel.”
The event draws over 400 participants, along with 20 to 30 representatives from British Columbia and Alberta
wine agencies. It is held at the Yukon Convention Centre at the Coast High Country Inn in Whitehorse.
“Our board believes we have made the right decision to protect the health and safety of festival patrons,
volunteers and visiting wine agents,” said Kennedy. “There are too many uncertainties about the size of group
gatherings, physical distancing, travel restrictions and quarantine requirements that could still be in place in
October to safely host the event.”
This year would have been the 29th consecutive year for the wine festival. The club uses the funds raised at the
event to support numerous local and international community service projects.
In 2019, Rendezvous Rotary was the major sponsor of a nine-seater van for the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Society
Yukon (FASSY). The club funds annual scholarships in health and medicine, and culinary arts, and is currently
sponsoring Rotary Global Peace and Conflict scholar Allison Furniss of Whitehorse in Cape Town, South Africa.
The club’s annual contributions include the Whitehorse Food Bank, the Child Development Centre and
Kaushee’s Place, along with international projects such as building water retention wells in northern India.
Rendezvous Rotary Club is planning for next year’s wine festival on October 21st , 2021.