2026 Chilli Cookoff With A Twist
It’s a Fundraiser
For the past four years, NTL Excavating has proudly sponsored a chilli cook-off to raise funds for the Military Police Ride for Blind Children. Held annually at the Malahat Legion, this event supports a charity that, while nationally recognized, does not meet the criteria established by the BC Gaming Commission for funding through legion gaming proceeds.
The First Twist
This year, we added an exciting twist to the competition. Instead of offering participation to all Legion members, Bar Manager Bob Cleroux challenged the bartending team to put their culinary skills to the test. While six participants were originally expected, unforeseen circumstances reduced the field to four determined contenders: Bob Cleroux, Isabelle Hammer, Vince Hammer, and Amanda Spence.
Second Twist – Blind Taste
A second twist came in the form of a blind tasting format. Each pot of chilli was assigned a number from 1 to 4, with no names attached. Participants paid $10 to take part, receiving four tasting tickets and one ballot. Volunteer Mercy Best served samples in exchange for tickets, allowing tasters to sample each entry before casting their vote for their favourite.
Military Police Attended
Another highlight of the day was the attendance of several members of the Military Police Ride team, who travelled from Sidney. Their presence added to the sense of occasion, even though attendance at the Legion’s regular Saturday meat draw was lower than usual. Alongside the tasting event was a donation box filled with cash contributions.Despite the smaller crowd, the event successfully raised $655 for the Blind Children’s charity.
Winners Announced
To build suspense, the winners were announced in reverse order. A memorable moment came when last year’s champion, Vince Hammer, was revealed in fourth place—met with plenty of laughter, good-natured teasing, and high fives. Some of that playful rivalry even extended to household competition between Vince and Isabelle Hammer. There were also lighthearted rumours that Vince’s victory last year may have involved a bit of “ballot stuffing” by enthusiastic supporters—though no evidence was ever found!
Final Results
- Bob Cleroux – First Place (and bragging rights!)
- Isabelle Hammer – Second Place
- Amanda Spence – Third Place
- Vince Hammer – Fourth Place
Overall, it was a fun-filled and successful day. If you weren’t there, you truly missed out on a great time!
