Stevenson Memorial Hospital

Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation

French Fries: Positive feedback makes us all better.

               My Dad immigrated to Canada in 1952 and began working in the fertile black muck fields of the Holland Marsh picking carrots, onions, lettuce, cauliflower and celery. Soon he became the shipper/receiver for Holland River Gardens and within a few years began working their french fry line. As their quality control person, he had to make sure that the fries they were producing were of the highest quality, and stayed that way until the consumer or restaurant using them found them consistently of superior quality.

               I was a little gaffer at the time and I would visit my Dad at work, and of course he had to make sure to test a batch in his personal test fryer when I came to see him. They were so good. Crispy, blonde, salty, soft-in-the-middle, and all about 3/8” square. No flaws such as eyes or black spots were permitted into the final product. The workers who worked the line made sure of that. Unsuitable potatoes were culled from the line before they were peeled. The good potatoes were then sliced, blanched in oil and flash frozen to keep them fresh. Oh, so good.

               Every time I go into a restaurant I compare their fries to my Dad’s. Hardee was their brand, and in 1965 my Dad won best french fry in Canada at the Canadian National Exhibition beating out the significant competition from New Brunswick. Today, I think one of the closest fries to resemble my Dad’s is McDonald’s, they taste and look the same. Support your local restaurants and if you like their fries…tell them…if you don’t like them…tell them.

               Positive feedback makes us all better informed to make good decisions. In addition, supporting local restaurants helps the Because of you, we can Campaign as they give generously to the hospital as well. In fact, MacKinnon Restaurants (McDonald’s Alliston & Angus) have committed significant financial support, and they provided moral support to the hospital staff during the pandemic.  Their generous support continues as they recently donated $3000 from their Cookies for Healthcare event towards Transforming Stevenson.  Thanks to The Morningview Foundation, that donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar.    

The Morningview Foundation provided Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation with a matching gift.  Donations received up until December 31, 2022 will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $1 million.  Now I really know it’s my responsibility to do my individual part for the Campaign.   

DONATE TODAY: https://transformingstevenson.ca/ways-to-give/

Dr. Ted Vandevis – Strategic Advisor of the Because of you, we can Campaign