By Jacob Fehr

NORFOLK Potters’ Guild and Studio and Port Dover Senior Centre held their third annual Soup Art Bowls fundraiser at Port Dover Community Centre last Thursday, March 20. The sold-out event attracted 350 people keen to sample soups from local businesses and take home a pottery bowl handmade by guild members.

Attendees picked out their preferred pottery bowls as they entered the venue and received a disposable bowl to fill and refill with soups. Restaurants set up tables lining the walls of the community centre. Organizers had rows of tables and chairs in the heart of the room for folks to sit, socialize, and savour soups.

New this year, organizers sold 50 express passes for people who wanted to come but couldn’t stay long. The passes allowed holders to skip the lineup to get into the centre.

A dozen businesses served food at the event, including Fisherman’s Catch, Neighbourhood Food Emporium, The Barrel Restaurant, Erie Beach Hotel, Urban Parisian, Trish’s Gluten Free Bakery, My Pantree Catering, Rustic Spoon, Kaley’s Restaurant, Clonmel Castle, Port Dover’s Tim Hortons, and Schofields Bistro. Some offered multiple soups to try; others had bread to pair with soups.
Urban Parisian owners Melanie Atkins and Brad Lewis said they’ve supported Soup Art Bowls “since it was at the Lynwood Arts Centre.” They felt this year’s event went especially well.

“It’s been great. I found this one, everything was smooth. We didn’t end up with a glut of people trying to get soup [at once]. So I really liked this one,” Ms. Atkins said. She added there was a “steady” flow of soup-seekers.

Mr. Lewis said they chose to bring a soup that customers might not otherwise try at their restaurant to let them sample it.

They said they would “absolutely” return for the next event.

Kaley Horton, owner of Kaley’s Restaurant in Simcoe, is another restaurateur who has contributed to the event since it was in Simcoe. She also plans to partake again.

“It’s always a good event. Nice to have the support of the local community for something in need of extra help.”

Kaer Saffouri and Mary Blakemore, owners of Port Dover’s Tim Hortons, said their restaurant participated in the event for the first time this year. They offered a couple of kinds of sandwiches, coffee, and their tongue-in-cheek “Timbit soup,” a large bowl of assorted Timbits.

Asked how it went, Ms. Blakemore said, “Based on what we have left, really well!” Mr. Saffouri said their coffee, sandwiches, and Timbits were popular with attendees.

She explained they were happy to support the organizers.

“I’m originally from Port Dover and [this event] is supporting a good cause. And I think it’s good exposure for a lot of the vendors in the area,” she said. “It’s good to support the community.”

And she said they’ll be back again, too.

“How could we not be? It’s a really good event. And it seems like it’s growing as well.”

Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit the potters’ guild and senior centre. Both will use the funds to cover their operating costs and programs.

Port Dover Senior Centre board president Sue Finnie explained that the event benefits her organization by helping keep costs down. The group rents their space, so they must maintain sufficient funds to continue renting and running programs.

“For us to do our due diligence, we have to do fundraising, and this is one of the bigger ones,” Ms. Finnie said.

She was very pleased with the event.

“I think it was fabulous. The support from the community, but also the restaurants that provided the staff, the marvelous food. It was wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.”

“And the Potters’ Guild of course. Their pottery is absolutely wonderful.”

In addition to the restaurateurs and attendees, she thanked all the event volunteers for their help. Many volunteers are Senior Centre members or executives.

Norfolk Potters’ Guild representative and event organizer Christy Miedema said proceeds will help her group cover operating expenses. The guild rents a building that requires “some specific accommodations,” such as high-quality ventilation, related to “safety protocols.”

Ms. Miedema said it was a great event. As a potter, she thinks “it’s fun to watch people pick through the bowls” to see their standards or preferences.

She mentioned that over the years of the event, she has enjoyed seeing more and more of the guild’s bowls around the community. All bowls made by the guild are tested to ensure they’re food-safe.

“They’re everywhere!”

Event organizer Adam Veri said it was special to see the joy people had at Soup Art Bowls.

“When I was looking around earlier, every single person had a smile on their face,” Mr. Veri said, adding it wasn’t just attendees but vendors and volunteers. “Where else do you see that?”

“It’s good. Everybody’s happy.”

He said the event is still growing and added two new participants this year, Rustic Spoon and Tim Hortons. The former contacted him to get involved, indicating that the event has attracted some attention. Clonmel Castle returned after an absence last year.

More participants meant more variety of food this year, he said.

He thanked all the restaurants, attendees, volunteers, and ticket sellers for making the event successful. Port Dover Jewellery, The Dover Cheese Shop, and members of the senior centre and potters’ guild sold tickets.

Mr. Veri also pointed out that “it’s not just Dover that’s doing this.” The Barrel Restaurant and Kaley’s Restaurant came from Simcoe to support Soup Art Bowls.

“That’s really nice that we can pull from somewhere else and they want to come help out,” he said.

“And you know it’s a good cause, too. It’s a good thing and it benefits a lot of people.”

The guild’s next fundraiser is its 2025 Spring Pottery Sale on April 25 and 26 at First Baptist Church in Simcoe.

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Originally published March 26, 2025