The first annual Global Acid Gas Chili Cook-Off was a GASEOUS success.
 There were 18 teams duking it out for ‘top pepper’ with Burlington Resources searing up Judges’ Choice 1st Place, Husky sponsored by Aron burned up Judges’ Choice 2nd place and Encana Corporation boiled for Judges’ Choice 3rd Place finish. Crowd Favorite was MicroWatt’s Toxic Avengers with D&R Pipeline and Oilfield Construction Ltd. burping up the Morning After prize. The 181st Chili Bean Recon Commando Force was off of the running after sampling their own chili. There were no fatalities.
 The hardy and brave judges on hand to warily sample the teams’ final chili slugs were Rocco Romano and Sugarfoot Anderson (Calgary Stampeders), Jamie Macoun (Calgary Flames), Barb Higgins and Tammy Christopher (CFCN News), Paula Davies and Dave Kelly (A channel), Kelsi Jordan, Mookie Wilson and Jason Catoni (Country 105), Joanne Johnson and The Coach (Lite 96 CHFM), Alderman Dianne Colley-Urquahart, Catherine Ford (The Calgary Herald), Bill Brooks (The Calgary Sun), Tara McCool (Global TV) and John Gilchrest (CBC Radio / Calgary Herald).
 The great Tony Spoletini from Spolumbos performed wonders as the event’s Master of Ceremonies.
Big Rock, 7-up and Lizard Lounge provided the necessary liquid fire extinquishers to the judges, teams and the public. The Calgary Stampede provided the stage for the event’s entertainment by the band Group Therapy and the Calgary Stampeder Cheerleaders. Tums provided grateful relief for the inevitable acid indigestion.
 The Global Acid Gas Chili Cook-Off event enjoyed wide spread media coverage. Country 105, CJAY 92 and Lite 96 radio stations aired radio spots with Millenia Resource Consulting’s Ralph Maybaum, the event’s brain storm and Rocco Ramano. The Calgary Sun’s Chris Gerritsen featured several write-ups, ‘The Roughneck’, Page 50 in the March 2002 Edition (Volume 50, No. 5), and The A-Channel aired the event live during it’s morning and noon-hour television broadcasts. The fabulous logo, banners and brochure were provided by Buzz Advertising.
 The true winners are the children in the Cardiac Unit at the Alberta Children's
Hospital. $28,000 was raised during the cook-off event itself and at Ceili’s Irish Pub’s After Burner party that evening. The Chili Cook-Off event earned a place on the Alberta Children’s Hospital’s donation wall as Donor of the Month for June 2002.
THANK YOU to the (suffering) citizens of Calgary. You made the Global Acid Gas Chili Cook-Off event what it became – INCREDIBLY, HUGELY SUCCESSFUL!
Spring 2003 will bring the 2nd edition of the Global Acid Gas Chili Cook-Off. Look and listen for news early in 2003.
|
