CORNWALL, Ontario – For 17 years running, the Seaway International Wine Festival has offered a fun filled night of entertainment, great food, and of course, exquisite wine. This year’s sold out crowd of 525 people weren’t slowed down by the winter storm roaring outside, as people began to pack the Ramada Inn by the time festivities were underway.
“We started about 17 years ago and we wanted to create something unique for Cornwall,” said Scott Lecky, general manager for the Ramada Inn and lead organizer for the event. “This year we’ve got eight wine vendors, six beer reps and three or four specialty drinks. There’s a little something for everybody. We’ve got wonderful entertainment, Coco Thompson and Shaharah from montreal..it’s really hard not to bring them back because they’re amazing.”
The event also featured chef Luc McCabe working alongside the Ramada Inn’s executive chef Joginder Khalsa to provide top notch catering for the evening.
“We’re also raising some funds for the River institute which is a wonderful and noble charity,” said Lecky. “We always tie a charity into the event. I helped the River Institute raise some funds, and it just felt like that would be a great choice.”
“It goes to our research and our education programs,” said Jeff Ridal, executive director and lead researcher for the St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences, “We have quite a lot of projects we’re doing on the health of the river, the ecosystem health report…that’s really one of our biggest projects in need of funds.”
“There’s something for everyone, it’s a lot of fun, and it you’ve never been you’re missing out,” said Lecky.
