Niagara This Week

Port Colborne named semi-finalist for ultimate barbecue town

 It’s getting heated for the President’s Choice Ultimate BBQ Town challenge.

This week it was announced that Port Colborne has made it into the semi finals and is one of 20 communities across Canada up to be named the country’s top town with the tongs. Organizers are now encouraging residents in Port Colborne to step away from their barbecues and support the community as it tries to get the top barbecue crown.

Or at least bring their laptops out onto the patio to vote in the challenge in between flipping burgers.

“Let’s hope for the best and at the end of the day hopefully we can be number one,” said mayor Vance Badawey.

Voting is open for the semi final round until June 11, when the grand prize winner, and nine other stops on the BBQTown tour, will be announced.

The grand prize in the competition is a community barbecue for 5,000 people, hosted by Chef Tom from President’s Choice and the Food Network’s Bob Blumer. There will also be a $25,000 donation in the winning community’s honour to the President’s Choice Children’s Charity. And finally, Canadian rock band Hedley will be performing in the town that finishes first.

Nine other communities will receive the secondary prize: a stop on the BBQTown tour and a barbecue event for 2,000 people.

Residents can vote once a day. To vote, visit www.pcbbqtown.ca and follow the links.