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Brad Smoliak

@baldsmo

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Cook, gardner, lover, dreamer. Sucking every morsel out of life while being powered by batteries.

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Photography has introduced me to remarkable people, but every so often, someone changes the way you see the world.

Brad was one of those people.

For the last five years, I watched him choose joy, even when life asked the impossible of him. I watched him turn gratitude into action, raising money for the Mazankowski Heart Institute and telling his story so that others might have hope. But most of all, I watched and felt the unwavering love between him and his wife Leanne.

Today I’m sharing a small photo essay in honour of a man who reminded all of us that a full life isn’t measured by the number of heartbeats we get, but by what we do with them.

Brad, you are deeply loved and will be deeply missed. by @baldsmo

Not the spring dinner we were hoping for, have to wait for another day to try out the new BBQ! In celebrations of our ties to Scotland, I made a classic, Mince and "tatties" but put mine on grilles sourdough. Not the most adventurous, but the mince with rich gravy loaded worchestishirenad red wine! Happy spring 2026! by @baldsmo

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Brad’s Heart Month fundraiser today. We had a full room (we even oversold our tickets!) and there was so much emotion as Brad shared his journey with his VAD and the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute. Brad’s wife, Leanne, shared that he wakes up every day singing and celebrating life 💙

Thanks to your generosity—and JCI Edmonton matching donations—we raised over $1,600 for the Heart Institute. You can still support Heart Month by purchasing our Valentine’s Packs, joining a Paint class, or enjoying our Valentine’s meals this week. Learn more at the link in our bio. by @baldsmo

❤️‍🩹 A lunch with heart — literally.

On Tuesday, February 10 from 12:00–1:00 PM, join us at Little DON’YA (10405 Jasper Ave) for a special Heart Month lunch featuring renowned Edmonton chef Brad Smoliak alongside the incredible Ukrainian cooks of DON’YA Ukraine’s Kitchen.

This meaningful reunion supports the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute VAD Program — the life-saving program that gave Brad a second chance at life.

🎟 $40 per ticket
💯 100% donated (thanks to JCI Edmonton for matching our donation!)
🍽 Includes a Heart Month lunch with pink perogies, prepared by Brad + the DON’YA team

Come eat well, do good, and support heart health. 💗 Link in bio to buy tickets! by @baldsmo

The wait is over, Billionaire Bacon preorder is officially live 🥓✨

Click the link in our bio to get all the details and order the most delicious treat of the holiday season.

#billionairebacon #yegfood #holidayseason #albertaeats #limited by @baldsmo

This Friday for lunch we’ve got the Italiano! This was one of our most popular lunches by far this summer, and for good reason! It starts with our Italian Fennel Pork Sausage and is topped with some delicious pickled peppers from the @baldsmo recipe book, ajvar spread, and fried onions.

Service starts at 11am and goes until 1pm (or sooner if we sell out) at 6736 99 street. Call ahead to reserve your lunch or place a large order.

Come get an amazing lunch for only $8.00!

#yegfood #fearnoflavour #sausage #salami #eatlocal #charcuterie #madeinalberta #fugefriday by @baldsmo

This Friday we’ve got a Mucho Fugerito pop-up for our Fuge Friday lunch special. On the menu is a Chicken Chorizo Street Corn Burrito. Mexican street corn, ground chicken chorizo sausage, rice, black beans, pickled red onion, feta and cilantro lime crema on a flour tortilla. We’ve got a feeling it’s gonna be a busy Friday so we’re making extra! We’ll see you for lunch!!!

#yegfood #yycfood #sausage #salami #eatlocal #charcuterie #madeinalberta #fugefriday by @baldsmo

These three words are what Fuge Sausage is all about! With every product we make we strive to create a truly memorable flavour that sets us apart and is unlike anything else. What this means behind the scenes is hours and hours of recipe prep each week. Every spice mix we use is made from scratch in our kitchen, whole spices are toasted and ground fresh for each production batch. We don’t compromise on quality and we don’t cut corners. That’s how we deliver Bold Delicious Flavour!

#yegfood #yycfood #sausage #salami #eatlocal #charcuterie #madeinalberta #fugefriday by @baldsmo

I have learned many things during my "cardiac journey". The most important is to enjoy each moment of each day. Second to this is to find patience. Growing grapes has taught me these lessons.
Growing grapes has become a passion. I know I will never be Robert Mondavi who started his first winery at my age but I love to be rewarded by my efforts.
There are many more grape clusters like the one in the photo.
Never stop trying!
#lvadbrad #winegrapes #patience #livelife #lovelife #gardening #yeggardening #grapes by @baldsmo

We have been hearing people say, "we have got to get to @fugesausage Friday before summer is over! Tomorrow is the perfect day! The Smo' s as we are known in the @tomatofooddrink are in the house! Come by and say hi to me and POOPSIE, aka Leanne, and grab a great Taco Sausage, a FUGE pork chorizo verde with guacamole, tomato & onions! OLE!!
#yeglunch #sausage #fugesausage #yegsummer #TGIF #lunch #handheldlunch by @baldsmo

Take me out to the ball game…. Getting ready for the @edmriverhawks win the northern division championships! Beautiful night for cold beer and #crackerjacks #funinthesun #baseball #summerinyeg #yeg #lvadbrad by @baldsmo

While Leanne tends to most of the flowers and yard, I do have my certain areas, and the gladiolus is one of "my" passions. This one is called Earl Grey, and it is stunning! Lots of similar learning curves between cooking and gardening,and as with both, you never stop learning!

#lvadbrad #gidosfarm #Yeg #flowers
#gladiolus #gardening #heartsurgerysurvivor
#lovelife #happydays #retirment by @baldsmo