Franchising

Smoke's Poutinerie raises $100K to send kids to camp

Smoke's Poutinerie annual Smoke-A-Palooza raised over $100,000 last week. Photo: Smoke's Poutinerie

August 19, 2024

Smoke's Poutinerie annual Smoke-A-Palooza raised over $100,000 last week in Toronto to help send kids with disabilities to fully accessible camps across Canada. The money will go to We Care, which has raised $28 million and funded nearly 150,000 days at camp since it formed in 1983.

"The atmosphere was electric," Kristin Hansens, Smoke's national marketing manager, said in a company press release. "Guitars cranked up, drums pounding, the scent of Free Poutine filling the air, Major League Eating was back for the first time since 2019, tons of games and entertainment…but the real highlight?! The Ryan Smolkin Memorial CEO Challenge, where corporate execs ditched their suits and went head-to-head in a two-minute, all-you-can-eat Poutine showdown. It was wild, it was fun, and it was all for a great cause."

Smolkin, 50, died on Oct. 29, 2023, after suffering unexpected complications from a recent surgery.

Founded in 2009 by Ryan Smolkin, Smoke's Poutinerie has nearly 50 locations in Canada.