Nov. 02, 2016 ISSN 2291-2738 Vol. 6 — Issue 43 | Your Community — Your Community News — MorinvilleNews.com Lessons Instruments Recording DJ & Live Performing A Great Pumpkin Grayson Widennaiel works on his pumpkin at the Great Pumpkin Adventure held Oct. 26 at the cultural centre. More than 30 children were in attendance. The Great Pumpkin Adventure was an opportunity for parents and their children to decorate their Halloween pumpkin together. Bringing - Lucie Roy Photo comfort to yourplumbing - heating home. - air conditioning BringingFor the peace of mind comfort thatto comes with quiet, dependable warmth and your home.energy efficiency that can For the peace ofsave mind you money, discover that comes with quiet, ® dependable warmthComfortmaker and systems. Linda Getzlaf Getz You Moving!energy efficiency that can save you money, discover ® Comfortmaker systems. 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Tel: (780) 939-4217 9923-101 Street, Morinville, AB T8R 1G2 780.939.4217Plumbing & Heating Ltd. www.quinnsplumbing.com Wi-Fiwww.CallQuinns.com FocusPRO HW265/225 Whole-House Thermostat Bypass Humidifier For over 40 years! Tel: (780) 939-4217 9923-101 Street, Morinville, AB T8R 1G2 Plumbing & Heating Ltd. www.quinnsplumbing.com Greeting his customers at the door, Deepthi Pelenage channels decades’ worth of experience in the hospitality industry to honour people who walk A restaurant with heart, into his restaurant. If you ask any of his regulars they’ll tell you—Deepthi is the real deal. One of the interesting things about Pelenage is that he is just as international as his menu. Growing up in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo, Morinville's Bistro Pelenage spent his childhood experiencing life on a hot, tropical island in South Asia. The country was popular with European tourists at that time, but by the di Madre Piccola 1980s things changed. Sri Lanka broke out into civil war; “that’s when we chose to leave,” Pelenage said in an interview. The restauranteur was in by Jennifer Lavallee his late teens by then and said his country was becoming an increasingly Morinville News Correspondent dangerous place to live so he and his family (his parents and siblings) fled. The departure marked the beginning of Pelenage’s journey around the It’s been three years since Deepthi Pelenage, owner of the Bistro di globe, at first taking him to places like Bahrain, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. He Madre Piccola, took a risk by opening a restaurant in the Town of Morinville. later secured a job in the Philippines where he met his wife. Shortly after The Bistro’s menu, as Pelenage describes it, brings international food to the that they started a family. Town, with a flair of Italian. Wanting to provide the best for his children, Pelenage once again set Pelenage, who owns the business with his wife and brother, works at the off to work abroad, having found an excellent employment opportunity in Bistro every day, from morning until night; the place is undoubtedly his Bermuda, of all places. home away from home. “It was good there,” explained Pelenage, “but [under their work visas], Nestled on 100 Avenue between the MuniWare building and Higher you couldn’t expect to have your family with you.” Grounds coffee shop, the Bistro adds an element of charm to the street “There are lots of Canadian influences in Bermuda, and they suggested with its new, striped awning and distinctive name. The restaurant is a large I look at immigrating to Canada,” Pelenage said, noting he was attracted to building that seats about 100 people. Low, comfortable lighting, a large Canada because it seemed like a safe place to live with good opportunities copper-topped fireplace, a noticeably fully stocked bar, and a motif that for education. gives a nod to massive ships from days past sets the tone of the room. Through a friend, in 2011, Pelenage found employment in Morinville at The atmosphere, however, is set by Pelenage himself. Don’s Bistro, which was a restaurant located in the same building as where Please contact us at [email protected] Page 2 | November 02, 2016 MorinvilleNews.com Bistro di Madre Piccola is today. Though he was still away from his family, Pelenage made it his goal to get them here, so he got to work. For two years he worked hard and sent money back home. In 2013, however, he was faced with some bad news; Don’s Bistro was closing down. Because of stipulations in his work visa, Pelenage said this presented him with only two options: leave Canada or start a restaurant in the same location as where he was working before. Obviously, he chose the latter. Pelenage, along with his brother, Pamitha (who was also living in the area) put together everything they had to start a new restaurant. Friends and family chipped in whatever they could. People from the many countries he had lived in and worked in collectively sent contributions to make Pelenage’s dream come true. “People sent $1,000 here or $2,000 there,” he explained, “I thought, this is a huge challenge, but let’s do it.” That is how Bistro di Madre Piccola was born. And now, three years later, Pelenage is a permanent resident of Canada. His family—his wife and three children—are also here and they work hard every day in their restaurant. When Pelenage talks about his new hometown he says, “[people from Morinville in particular] are so good to us. Of all the places we’ve been, here is where I feel like people care for us and talk about us the most.” There are challenges, though. “It’s hard to get the word out of what we have available [in the restaurant],” noted Pelenage, describing the effort he and his staff go to make the Bistro work. “We make every single thing from scratch,” he said, from sauces and glazes to desserts, and main courses. Bistro di Madre Piccola is open for buffet brunch on Sundays and has lunch specials throughout the week. They have a kid’s menu and will even accommodate special requests and catering. Pelenage said the menu has a flair for Italian food because of his brother-in- law, Gayan Ediriweera, one of the restaurant’s chef’s, who cooked in Italy for years. Ediriweera brought his skills for the cuisine with him to Canada and even speaks fluent Italian to the delight of some of their customers. Another familiar face at the Bistro is Jana Samaraweera, a childhood friend of Pelenage from Sri Lanka, who by coincidence reconnected with him in Town. Though it is a struggle to fill the restaurant at times, Pelenage is slowly building a solid base of loyal customers. “We stumbled upon the Bistro when driving up and down the main road on a mission to find a good non-fast food place to dine and relax,” said Karen Murrin, one of the Bistro’s regular customers and biggest fans. “We were pleasantly surprised to find the menu and atmosphere were far beyond our expectations for a small-town restaurant." Murrin joked that she would like to build an apartment over top of the Bistro if she could. She and her partner, Harold Fischer, have developed such a soft spot for the restaurant they’ve made it their mission to let people know about this culinary gem in Morinville. “This little dining oasis run by salt-of-the-earth people is a rare thing to find these days, and a thing to be proud of.” Morinville Apple Christmas Card Fundraiser Fest & Craft Sale Saturday, November 12th 10 am - 4 pm Come browse the craft tables , Check website for more details. Meet friends, have a treat & enjoy Coffee & Cards some good company. Wednesday, November 2nd Noon - 2 pm November 5, 2016 Lego Block Party 10:00 am to 3:00 pm , 6:00 - 7:00 pm @ The Morinville Cozy Corner Stories Rendez-Vous Centre Thursday, November 3rd 10:30 am Fresh Apple Delights available Mom & Me Craft Time For info, contact Judy: 780-222-9050 or Thursday, November 3rd, 11:00 am Carol: 780-939-2795 Scrap that Card Free Admission; Door Prizes Thursday, November 3rd, 6:30 pm Kidz Flicks Movie! Rachet & Clank Friday, November 4th 1:00 pm & Thursday, November 10th 1:00 pm Loose Threads , 6 pm Morinville Community Library Hours of Operation Monday-Thursday 10 am - 8 pm Friday 10 am - 6 pm Morinville CoSaturdaymmu n10it amy L - i4b pmrary Want to see your event in Sunday 12 pm - 4 pm Hours of OClosedpera Holidaystion our Community Calendar Monday - Thursday 10 am - 8 pm Friday 1010125 am - 6100 pm Avenue Send your not-for-profit Morinville, AB. T8R 1P8 Community Event listing to: Phone:Saturday 780-939-3292 10 am - 4 pmFAX: 780-939-2757 SundayeMail: 12 [email protected] pm - 4 pm Website:Closed Holidayswww.MorinvilleLibrary.ca [email protected] two weeks prior to our Wednesday publication date.