Everything’s Ducky-less: 2018 Rotary Duckless Race coming up

When Annapolis Valley Rotary clubs get handed lemons, they truly know how to make lemonade! This is no different than when they get advised that they can no longer hold their Annual Duck Race in the Gaspereau River, no fear; The Rotary Club of Wolfville and the Rotary Club of New Minas Sunrise are holding a duck-less race…without the race part!

The event that has a 23-year history, has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. The duck race was abruptly cancelled this year due to reasons out of the Rotary Clubs control. The race has always been an important fundraiser for the clubs, who use the money for projects such as supporting Big Brothers/big Sisters, scholarships and bursaries for local students pursuing post-secondary education, the Valley Hospice Foundation and many other local projects. Giving up the fundraiser was not an option, so the clubs got creative!

This year there is no water involved, instead prizes will be drawn on Sunday, July 1 at the Lockhart Ryan Park in New Minas as they celebrate Canada Day and the Village marks its 50th anniversary.

You can buy your family ticket for $5 to enter your ‘duck’ in the Race draw. Some of the prizes for winners of the Family Race Draw include: a $250 Oultons Fuels certificate, a $100 gift card from Boston Pizza & Jungle Jim’s, a BBQ from Rafuse Home Hardware and Building Centre, Sunglasses from FYI Doctors and a family facility pass from Acadia University. The Grand Prize is two airline tickets to anywhere in continental North America plus $1,500.00 spending money.

The Corporate Race is a go too. Grand prize is dinner for 8 at the Library Pub Wine Tavern in Wolfville plus tickets to a show at Centrestage Theatre in Kentville and the corporate tickets are only $100.

The top four best decorated corporate ducks will each receive a prize. A prize will also be drawn for the ‘Survivor Duck’, the ‘Ruffled Feathers Duck’, and the ‘Lucky Duck’. The best news for corporate entries is that their Duck doesn’t have to be seaworthy, so the clubs are encouraging businesses to get creative and show off their company! The best dressed ducks will be on display at Lockhart Ryan Park on July 1st for community judging!

The Canada Day fun begins at 2 p.m. with a BBQ, and children’s activities. From 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. there will be live music and fireworks to finish off the evening. The family Duck Race draw will take place at 8:30 p.m. and the corporate Duck Race draw at 9 p.m. Tickets for the Race draw can be purchased at the Blomidon Inn in Wolfville, Gates Insurance in New Minas, any Rotarian from both clubs and other community groups, or at Lockhart Ryan Park on Canada Day.

The 2018 Rotary Duck-less Race Committee

The Rotary Club of Wolfville

The Rotary Club of New Minas Sunrise