OC Students Create Okanagan Poutine and Wine Event

One of Canada’s most important dishes and one of the Okanagan’s most treasured drinks are joining forces for an event.

Four Okanagan College School of Business students thought that bringing together Okanagan wine and poutine would make for a mouth-watering evening.

Tim Allgaier, an international exchange student from Germany, Yuan Wang from China, Patrick Martin from Ottawa, and Nick Naylor from Calgary worked together with Dairy Farmers of Canada to come up with “Poutine and Pinot”.

“It was exciting to start the semester with a real-life business project,” said 26-year-old Allgaier.

“As a student, to work with a real client who wants to invest real money and time into an event that you are creating is an entirely different learning experience.”

With a little help from Business Professor Dr. Blair Baldwin, the idea became a reality.

“Poutine and Pinot is a first across Canada and demonstrates both student creativity and consumer interest in supporting local. I am delighted that students tested their imaginative skills and then built a sound business plan,” said Baldwin.

“It is encouraging to see how partnering our students with industry helps generate innovative ideas. The progressive thinking resonates and the public was quick to pick up on it. ”

The February 20^th event sold out within 14 days of launching the digital marketing campaign.

Allgaier said it is more than just a school project.

“We didn’t just start writing a business plan and then hand it in,” said Allgaier.

“I learned a lot about working in teams, how much details matter in a business idea, and the common rules of business. What the project was really about was turning an idea into reality.”

Some of the poutines that the 100 ticket-holders will have the chance to taste include a brie and apricot turkey demi-glace, a pork belly with cherry veal demi-glace, and a smoked salmon with béarnaise.