09/24/2026
HOT CHIPS. COOL HISTORY.
A little salt, a splash of vinegar, and a whole lot of Canadiana!
Join the Merrickville & District Historical Society for a deliciously different Speaker Series evening celebrating the history and culture of Canada’s iconic chip stands.
We’re welcoming Chantal Bennett & Joel Kimmel, authors and illustrators of The Chip Stand: 130 of Canada’s Iconic Food Landmarks, for a presentation, Q&A and book signing.
Bring your curiosity, your chip-stand memories, and a friend who always steals your fries!
Where’s YOUR all-time favourite Canadian chip stand? Poutine or no poutine? White vinegar or c***r vinegar? Gravy?
Tell us in the comments!
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
7 PM
Merrickville Legion
229 Main St. W., Merrickville, ON
The humble chip stand is an iconic symbol of Canada and a welcome sight to hungry tourists and locals alike. Eating at a chip stand is an unpretentious experience.The chip stand is where down-to-earth, real Canadians go to indulge. It's the quintessential Canadian road trip food. From coast to coast, these colourful shacks, sheds, buses, vans and trucks dish out delicious French fries, poutine, hamburgers and steaming hot Pogos.For 10 years, illustrators Chantal Bennett and Joel Kimmel have taken road trips around Canada searching for the best chip stands, interviewing the owners and celebrating the colourful stands in drawings and paintings. Their beautiful illustrations capture the eclectic aesthetic of chip stands from British Columbia to Newfoundland. With amusing histories of the chip wagons, pogos, poutine, and casse croutes, they may even give away the secrets to making the perfect fry.
Joel Kimmel is an illustrator who has worked with clients such as Nike, ESPN, and Microsoft. His work has been published in the Globe and Mail, Maclean's, the Los Angeles Times and Canadian Wildlife magazine, among others. He has designed over 35 coins for the Royal Canadian Mint, including a commemorative loonie and toonie. He loves drawing portraits, maps and basketball players and also sketching at restaurants. He is a graduate of Sheridan College's illustration program. Chantal Bennett is an illustrator who has worked for clients such as Chatelaine, the National Post and Canadian Geographic. She enjoys illustrating portraits, icons and other things that reflect her passion for history, fashion and vintage things in general. She also has a soft spot for fairytales and turn-of-the-century illustrations. She studied illustration at Parsons the New School for Design.
All are welcome!
Voluntary $2 donation is appreciated.
