When Rick Brooks moved to Bradford, Ontario with his wife Marlene and their children, it wasn’t long before he observed that Bradford, while an inviting community, had little to offer by way of community events.“CarrotFest is Bradford’s longest running festival and it is a fantastic event but,” says Rick, “I saw so much potential for more community events that would draw people and businesses from all over the GTA and maybe even further afield.”In 2013, Rick, with a background in sales and marketing, took a leap of faith and applied to the town for permission to run a Ribfest in Bradford. He received that permission and with very little time to spare began planning that first event for September 2013. Zehrs boarded the train as the Presenting Sponsor which brought other sponsors to the table. Despite the cold, wet weekend that nature provided, Bradford Ribfest 2013, was a huge success with everyone asking for “more next year. “Since that first major Ribfest, Rick began developing a company that quickly emerged as one of the most organized and successful event planning companies in Ontario. He went on to organize ChiliFest, Bradfordlicious, Christmas Toy Drives, Bradford’s Texas BBQ and now, several Ribfest events throughout Ontario, including Toronto’s Largest Ribfest 2023, Alliston Ribfest, Lakeshore Ribfest, Innisfil Ribfest and Owen Sound Ribfest. As the company took on more events outside of Bradford the name was changed to Ontario Festival Group (OFG) and, as of 2023 has raised more than $100,000 in support of charities that include President's Choice Children's Charity, CrossTrainers, Kerry's Place Autism Service, the Bradford Legion (supporting veterans), Scouts, Bradford West Gwillimbury Community Initiatives, Football Toronto and others. “As it is with all new ventures,” says Brooks, “There were bumps and even mistakes along the road. We expanded more rapidly than anticipated, but learned quickly. With our new Not-for-Profit status and more professionals coming aboard we have increased our ability to support charities with proceeds from all our events.”OFG works directly with municipal planners, stakeholders and hundreds of vendors and entertainers curating the best music, talent and festival food, leaving audiences with enduring memories that bring them back every year.“Our shows improve local economies, tourism and culture awareness, while bringing thousands of friends and family together creating memorable experiences within their community,” says Brooks. "Let's talk about bringing a Ribfest to your town!"
Listed skills include Social Media Marketing, Event Production, Event Management, Social Media, and 2 others.
