Online tributes poured in on Thursday for well-known Prince Albert businessman Randy Whitter, who passed away at the age of 68.
Whitter, who operated My Place Bistro and Catering with his wife Carol, was a common sight at community functions and fundraisers where he and his staff fed hundreds of hungry guests.
“He was always so professional, and just an overall lovely guy,” reads a Facebook post from Odyssey Productions, who used Whitter as a caterer for many of their events. “He will be truly missed.”
Whitter didn’t just cater some of the biggest events in Prince Albert, he also helped inspire them.
In 2024, Whitter catered an event for local photographer Shannon Parenteau. He was so impressed, he suggested Parenteau use her talents to help out the Salvation Army.
Parenteau agreed, and Plates of Hope was born. The first event raised more than $45,000 for the Salvation Army’s lunch program. In early February, the Salvation Army announced the fundraiser would return in March.
“(He said) ‘there is an amazing program in Prince Albert here that needs a little bit of help—a very needed program for people facing food insecurity,” Parenteau said during an interview with the Daily Herald in January 2025. “He was like ‘I just feel like you’re the girl for the job.’ I said, ‘say no more. I have an idea’ and that’s kind of where this blossomed.”
Randy and Carol were in the food business for more than three decades, but they were best known for My Place Bistro and their catering. The independent business specialized in custom catering events and freshly prepared food.
On their website, the couple said the venture as a “labour of love” and their very first sole proprietorship.
A funeral date and location has not been announced as of press time.
