Overview

• A group of five children at Northwest Fudge Factory in Levack, Ontario, crafted a 544-kilogram Nanaimo bar on July 1, overtaking an unofficial 499-kg record set by Vancouver Island University students.
• Instead of pursuing Guinness World Records verification, co-owner Chantelle Gorham said the team opted for validation through the Baking Association of Canada and Culinary Association of Canada to allow a future bid by Nanaimo residents.
• The oversized dessert was sliced into 2,400 half-pound portions and sold on Canada Day, raising funds for three charities supporting youth in Greater Sudbury.
• Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog expressed disappointment over “nasty emails” sent to the Ontario team but welcomed the boost to healthy competition between the regions.
• The event strengthened regional pride and fuelled plans for future giant-scale baking competitions between Ontario and British Columbia.