Where’s the beef?

Protests are fine provided they’re peaceful, don’t compromise the public’s safety and everyone keeps their clothes on.

But, the question for the nine people who crashed the Sunrise Rotary Club’s kickoff to the Kelowna Ribfest on Wednesday is, can’t you find a better cause?

If you want to support a cause that supports animals, surely there’s a greater villain out there in the corporate world than Rotarians. Cecil the Lion, puppy mills, lax laws on animal cruelty, or saving the orcas would all be a more worthwhile fight.

Ribfest is a festival that offers live music, kids’ activities, a beverage garden and tons of people watching. And, yes, it centers around food — pork ribs to be precise.

It’s important to note that Ribfests also offer vegan and vegetarian options. Entry to the park is free, you don’t have to eat unless you want to.

Many Okanagan festivals and cultural events celebrate food — Feast of Fields, Pig Out, Chef Meets Grape and the Okanagan Wine Festivals all quickly come to mind. Events such as the Penticton Peach Festival and Vernon Winter Carnival have food trucks that serve meat.

Should vegetarian proponents protest these festivals? Or a supermarket that advertises meat specials in their newspaper flyers? Or an old-fashioned butcher shop?

An omnivore versus vegetarian lifestyle is a personal choice. We respect personal choice.

There are tons of Rotary Ribfest events held across the country, including a new one in Penticton. People seem to enjoy them.

In Kelowna, a significant amount of money will be raised for JoeAnna’s House, a 20-bedroom space where out-of-town families of patients at Kelowna General Hospital can stay. For those who have a sick child, out-of-town travel for an extended period of time can potentially bankrupt a family. Families should not be separated during times of crisis.

The suggestion that Rotarians’ can find another fundraiser is simplistic. Fundraising is a tough game. There’s many other competing causes and the public is demanding. They want value for their buck.

We admire the protesters for standing up for what they believe in, but their timing is inappropriate, picketing a kickoff event. There are better avenues — letters to the editor, social media, a rally that doesn’t coincide with the Rotarians announcement.

We forgot to mention that Ribfest is operated 100 per cent by volunteers.

Where would our communities be without Rotarians? A lot worse off.