Canada’s Zaniest Event Returns

By / Magazine / August 3rd, 2009 / Like

If you love cheese and you just can’t wait for the 2010 Winter Olympics to begin, you’re in luck. Dairy Farmers of Canada has announced the return of one of Canada’s wackiest downhill competitions.

The Second Canadian Annual Cheese Rolling Festival will be held on August 15th, beginning at 12:00 noon in Whistler, British Columbia, with an afternoon of cheese rolling races and other fun activities for the whole family. Inspired by the wildly popular tradition of cheese rolling in the UK, this event will see daring Canadians racing down a hillside chasing after a giant, coveted wheel of Canadian Cheese.

“Last year the Canadian Cheese Rolling Festival was such a success that we decided to make this an annual event,” says Solange Heiss, assistant director, marketing and nutrition communications, Dairy Farmers of Canada. “It’s a day of fun for the entire family and a fantastic way to shine the spotlight on some amazing Canadian cheese makers.” According to Statistics Canada, Canadians consume more than 765 million pounds of cheese every year. The cheese making industry is one of Canada’s oldest, dating back nearly as far as the fur trade. There are over 200 cheese makers in Canada who make more than 150 varieties of cheese.

As crazy as it sounds, cheese rolling is exactly that. A large wheel of cheese is rolled down a hill and contestants chase it down until someone catches it. The first contestant to make it down the hill wins. Canadian cheese maker Natural Pastures produced special 11-pound wheels of Cracked Pepper Verdelait cheese for the Canadian Cheese Rolling Festival. The winners get to take home the giant wheel of cheese and a Whistler winter season pass. Everyone will be able to sample Canadian cheese, wander through a Farmer’s Market and participate in cheese seminars. Canadian comic, actor and improvisation star Roman Danylo will be hosting the days’ festivities.

To pre-register or to learn more about the Second Annual Canadian Cheese Rolling Festival visit www.canadiancheeserolling.ca .

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