The West Coast Chocolate Festival
What is the West Coast Chocolate Festival?
First launched in 2002, the West Coast Chocolate Festival is a unique and innovative collection of individual high calibre chocolate-themed adult and all-ages events that occurred throughout the Tri-Cities area of Coquitlam, Port Moody and Port Coquitlam. In 2009, the festival expanded to Burnaby and Vancouver, then expanding across the Lower Mainland in 2010. Reflecting emerging trends such as culinary tourism, experiential travel, small affordable indulgences and a rapidly increasing appreciation of the healthy benefits of good chocolate, festival events celebrate the magic of chocolate and appeal to the senses and the soul while attracting guests from surrounding cities, the BC Lower Mainland and beyond. With chocolate as a powerful draw, the festival leverages events to bring people of all ages and cultures together, to raise awareness about proper consumption and lesser-known positive benefits of the incredibly appealing food, and most importantly, to create valuable opportunities for youth mentorship in the local community.
Festival Director, Dawn Donahue, says "This not-for-profit festival remains an ambitious, dynamic, volunteer-driven operation dedicated to providing work and mentorship experiences for youth while showcasing emerging talent in the local arts and chocolate industries. The Festival offers something for everyone, and upholds the idea that adults want to support youth. At the West Coast Chocolate Festival people support youth and the arts - by just showing up for chocolate".