Chili cookoff at Ridgeway Legion offers community a full meal for $5
February 4, 2026 at 3:50 AM
About 100 people visited the Royal Canadian Legion branch in Ridgeway for an all-you-can-eat soup and chili competition aimed at raising funds and awareness of the hall.
The event ran for several hours on Saturday afternoon at the South Mill Street location and featured eight homemade entries judged by attendees through anonymous ballots.
The fundraiser offered four soups and four chilis, charging a flat $5 entry fee, with proceeds directed to supporting Branch 230’s operations.
Jack Taylor started the soup and chili event to bring locals together and raise awareness that the Legion welcomes everyone in the community, alongside his daughter who helped serve in the hall on Saturday. Credit: Andrew Hawlitzky | Fort Erie RadioThe first place prize was a catered dinner donated by Grumps Catering, while other competitors received recognition.
“So everybody gets under one roof, having something hot to eat, talking to each other,” Jack Taylor, event organizer and Legion volunteer, told Fort Erie Radio. “We do not do enough of that anymore. Too many people are on their phones. You offer a decent meal at a decent price, and people will come.”
Taylor said turnout for the event exceeded a typical Saturday at the hall, with steady traffic through the afternoon and some attendees even coming from St. Catharines to grab a bite.
Jennifer Taylor, owner of Grumps Catering and a Legion volunteer, said the low cost mattered given current food prices and household budgets.
The cauliflower and cheese chili made by Jack Taylor’s daughter was a surprise favourite at the Branch 230 soup and chili competition with rich melted cheese and roasted cauliflower. Credit: Andrew Hawlitzky | Fort Erie Radio“Where can you get a meal that you leave full for $5, especially right now?” she asked rhetorically.
Organizers said several attendees learned for the first time that the Legion allows non-members to attend public events. Niagara Regional Police Service coincidentally conducted their canine training sessions upstairs in the Legion hall during the afternoon, with several officers coming down to support the cookoff.
Taylor said community outreach is necessary as many Legions face declining visibility.
Legion Branch 230 hosts a range of public events from weekly dinners and live music to community lunches and parties, with a fully-equipped kitchen and licensed bar available for functions. Credit: Andrew Hawlitzky | Fort Erie Radio“Legions are fading out because more people are not aware of them,” he said. “If people do not know they can come here, they are not going to show up.”
The Ridgeway Legion is planning additional public events in the coming weeks, including weekly dinners, a Super Bowl viewing and a Valentine’s Day dinner for two priced at $50. Details can be found through through Legion Branch 230’s Facebook page.
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About The Author
Andrew Hawlitzky
Andrew is a Niagara community journalist who has covered everything from local politics to annual festivals and breaking news. He works to make local news a platform where community voices lead the conversation. "If you don't like the news, go out and make some!"
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