Catering company raises funds to upgrade the Chelsea sugar shack and vineyard

Sophie Demers 

In December of last year, My Catering Group purchased the Chelsea vineyard and sugar shack, Le Vignoble de Chelsea. Le Vignoble de Chelsea will be the closest vineyard to the nation's capital and will be used for farm-to-table catered events. 

Owner and founder of My Catering Group, Derick Cotnam, wants to make the location an agri-tourism destination. In order to do this, the sugar shack will need some upgrades. Using a Quebec crowdfunding website, La Ruche, and selling tickets to a fundraising soirée the new owners of the site were able to surpass their $20,000 fundraising goal. The “party with a purpose” event took place on September 29, the event consisted of food, music and drinks that were enjoyed by all. The funds raised totaled $21,945. 

The new owners are working closely with the MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais, Tourisme Outaouais and Juniper Farms in order to get to know the community and prioritize sustainability. The upgrades will mostly be updating equipment throughout the rest of the year just in time for next year's sugar shack season. Equipment upgrades will include an oil-fired evaporator, tubing, pumps, and syrup containers, tanks, and pans. 

Le Vignoble de Chelsea is located at 1582 Route 105 in Old Chelsea.