What can you expect at this year’s Toronto Wing Festival besides about 50 different flavours of mouth-watering wings? The not-to-be-missed festival, now in its third year, will take place on Sunday, May 4th at Daniel’s Spectrum. The brainchild of the young Rotarians in the Rotary Club of Toronto Skyline, the event is a wing lover’s paradise, and proceeds go to charity so you can feel good about giving back while getting your hands dirty. It gives new meaning to the idea of angels getting their wings. We caught up with Toronto Wing Festival Chair Kevin Quan to find out more…
Tell us a bit about yourself. What should people know?
I’m the current Chair of the Toronto Wing Festival (TWF) and a past president of the Rotary Club of Toronto Skyline. We are a local chapter of Rotary International, the largest service organization in the world. Our club is comprised of young professionals who volunteer their time for local and international charity projects.
What can visitors expect at Toronto Wing Festival 2014?
First timer visitors will likely be overwhelmed by the variety of wings available. We’re talking over 50 different flavours. We’re creating a guidebook for the event to familiarize visitors with all our participating vendors. What’s new for returning patrons is more vendors and more wings!
Why did the Rotary Club of the Toronto Skyline start Toronto Wing Festival?
The TWF is our annual fundraiser. We funded and organized the first event in 2012 as a way to enjoy food, beer and “do good” things.
We love that the festival supports international and local charities. What charities have you supported in the past and where will Toronto Wing Festival proceeds be donated this year?
In the past we’ve donated to City of Toronto’s Streets to Homes, the Fort York Food Bank, and a clean sanitation project for an elementary school in rural Cambodia. This year we again will support the Fort York Food Bank, and are adding Regent Park programs like Native Earth Performing Arts.
How do you like your wings? Mild? Spicy? Suicide by fire department?
Personally I like them spicy. I especially prefer the variations of spicy garlic/parmesan.
What are currently some of your favourite restaurants to visit in Toronto?
I’m always on the look-out for new lunch spots in the Spadina/Queen West area where I own a bicycle design studio (my day job). My current faves are Sansotei Ramen, Seven Lives, and Rol San.
What are the biggest challenges and best rewards about what you do?
The biggest challenge is that organizing the TWF is an all-volunteer effort that takes all-year planning. I’m very grateful to all my colleagues for putting in the days to ensure success.
The best reward is actually seeing the charitable donations make a difference in people’s lives. We actively engage and volunteer to all our partner charities. We’re definitely much more than just check writers.
Finish this sentence. I love Toronto because…
…I’ve lived in other cities/countries, but Toronto will always be my home, and home is where the heart is.
Three things you can’t live without? Go!
1. My Travel Go-Bag packed and ready at a moment’s notice.
2. My bicycle. On top of a fancy car. In Europe. #morewishthanreality
3. Toronto Maple Leafs.
Let’s get social for a moment. How can people stay up-to-date with all your globe-trotting?
TorontoWingFestival.com, Facebook (Wings Festival), Facebook (Rotary Club of Toronto Skyline), Twitter, Blog.