Prince George's MLAs were once again voted to victory, only this by-election was all over chili and the only party involved was the Spring Arts Bazaar that roiled around the nine cooking stations on the ballot.
The annual Great Northern Chili Cook-Off is a feature event at the arts extravaganza, and for the past five years in a row, the city's MLAs have won. The Citizen has filed a Freedom Of Information request to determine the secret ingredients of this superior bean-and-beef brew, since MLAs Shirley Bond and Mike Morris refused to disclose the recipe.
"The annual Chili Cook-Off is one of my favorite events of the year," said Bond, but soon became evasive under intense questioning.
"There was very stiff competition this year and even some direct challenges on Twitter. I can't reveal our secret ingredients - but I can say there was a little sugar and cumin involved," she said.
Community Arts Council organizers swore that the MLA chili was subjected to a battery of tests for foodworthiness and political ethics, and it passed every exam.
"Everything is on the up and up. They bring their A-game. They are five-time winners for a reason," said CAC project co-ordinator Lisa Redpath. "And they also went around to all the other booths and were gracious to everyone. I'm sure they all want to win, but really the spirit of competition is all for fun and the big winner is the community. That's what all the chili booths are there for."
About 450 people paid their $20 for the free handmade clay bowl made by the members of the Prince George Potters Guild, one of the many arts groups under the CAC umbrella. That fee allowed participants to eat chili at will and vote for the supreme pot.
Many other artisan booths, entertainers, and other cultural features were on the lawn of Studio 2880, the headquarters for the CAC. The warm weather had the faces smiling, said Redpath, but no more or less than the rainy event last year.
"That just shouts support, screams support, for the local arts community and what it means to Prince George," Redpath said. She issued an invitation to other community groups to consider setting up a chili pot next year at the Spring Arts Bazaar and try their hand at unseating Bond and Morris.
"It was fantastic to see nine teams out supporting the Community Arts Council," she added. "And I have heard the the Cougars have even laid down a challenge for next year already. We will be practicing a little with our recipe this winter for sure."
In other words: "bring it, chili challengers."
