Members of Calgary city council came together for the third time on Nov. 27, to compete for the much coveted Golden Lettuce trophy—all in support of the Calgary Food Bank.

Mayor Jyoti Gondek, Councillors Raj Dhaliwal, Jasmine Mian, Dan McLean, Kourtney Penner, Courtney Walcott, Sonya Sharp, and Terry Wong along with members of the city community like Chief Sue Henry, Calgary Downtown Association and Calgary Hotel Association executive directors Mark Garner and Sol Zia, and Calgary Public Library CEO Sarah Sarah Meilleur competed this year.

The goal was to fill as many bags of potatoes as possible, which would then be given out in emergency hampers to some 700 Calgarians a day who have been using the Calgary Food Bank.

“It’s just great to get together with my colleagues. This is such a fun event because we’re all super competitive, but we know we’re doing it for people who are in need. There’s Christmas carols going, there’s a tree. It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Mayor Gondek.

The early morning competition was the first part of an all-ward competition as part of the Mayor’s Annual Christmas Food Drive, to collect as much food and donations as possible until Dec. 11.

Those donations, along with the number of pounds of potatoes bagged, give points to ward councillors to win the Golden Lettuce, which has been won for two years in a row by Ward 5 and Coun. Dhaliwal.

“I know people are really wanting that golden lettuce trophy but he’s kind of a machine, so we’ll see how it goes,” said Mayor Gondek.

Ready to give up the trophy, but expect a fight says Councillor

For his part, Coun. Dhaliwal said that he would be happy to have another ward win the trophy if it meant raising more money for the food bank, but that he was going to fight hard for the win for a third time in a row.

“I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I really want to win and I think I’m going to win again. But I really want to lose too, because I want someone else to step up. I’ll be happy to lose this to another councillor, because it’s all about Calgary, and it’s about helping,” he said.

“Last year, we hit $19,000, so if someone can do more, wow, that will be amazing. I’ll be more than happy to hand this over to them.”

At the end of day, one of the competitors, Coun. Mian’s Ward 3 team had taken the lead in the number of pounds of potatoes packed into bags with 700 lbs. That total would be added to the final tally of food collected.

Coun. Penner with her Ward 11 team took home a bonus 1,000 points for the best spirit during the competition.

A total of 4,580 lbs of potatoes were bagged—or the equivalent of a little more than 10,000 average-sized potatoes.

Melissa From, the CEO of the Calgary Food Bank, said that the effort by councillors was extra special for Calgarians in need.

“They’re putting in effort, they’re volunteering, and they’re bagging some potatoes for us today, but they’re also going out into their wards, their communities, they’re raising money for us, and they do have a platform in our community,” she said.

“They have a voice, and therefore they have the ability to raise this cause and make people aware.”

She said that a big part of helping the food bank was through the donation of time, and not just food.

“Every day at the Calgary Food Bank, we have 175 volunteers who come and make up basically 50 per cent of our workforce. Obviously, today’s special, we bring in the mayor and council and we put them to work a little bit, but the reality is, they are just filling a role that so many Calgarians fill every day for us, that makes it possible for us to do what we do,” From said.

“Another great way for folks to get involved this time of year especially is through what we call third-party events. That’s where you’re hosting a corporate event or Christmas party, and make it have a little bit of meaning and a bit of a cause by supporting the Calgary Food Bank.”

A message to Calgarians about coming together, despite political differences

The Councillor’s Challenge followed a sometimes contentious week in Calgary City Council, as the city budget was debated.

When it comes down to it, council rallies together for causes that need to be addressed, like feeding those in need this holiday season, the mayor said.

“I think the most important thing for council to always remember and for Calgarians to know is that we are 15 people elected to represent the interest of the public, and it’s all right to have debates and some really good discussions in council chambers, and it’s OK to disagree. That’s how this works,” she said.

“But when community needs us, we have to rally together, and we have to chip in and work with each other.”

That sentiment was echoed by Coun. Dhaliwal, who said that those debates in council, and the work outside together, were evidence that council takes their job seriously.

“It’s never all about rosy pictures and kumbayas, if you want to say that, but it is about looking at each and every penny from as granular level as possible. Sometimes, when do you do that, things do get contentious, things do get hot, but once you’re done, you leave it behind,” he said.

“Today is all about us putting another hat on, which is also as councillors, but more importantly as residents. So, this is an example that we all have a vested interest in doing the best for Calgarians to the best of our abilities.”