Weathering the weather at Brome-bolton Fishing Derby
Thirtieth annual derby
While the bugs were hiding away from the near freezing temperature on Saturday, much to the joy of hundreds of youngsters in the region, the fish were still biting. In these parts there were fishing derbies going on during the only weekend of the year when Quebec’s Ministry of Wildlife, Forests, and Parks opened fishing up to anyone without a licence in Granby, Sutton, Potton, West Bolton, and others. It was West Bolton that marked its 30th year in organizing the event that serves to promote fishing as a sport.
Bundled up in winter woollies, more than 150 youngsters along with their parents set up their stations along the banks of a couple of ponds located on an undisclosed private estate in West Bolton on Saturday morning. As Kelly Bush, mother of two young daughters, enthusiastically said, “It was so cold! But it doesn’t matter. The kids caught fish, they had a great time. It’s always a great time for all of us at this event.”
When asked how long it takes to organize the event, Brome-bolton Fish and Game Club President John Rhicard took a breath before saying, “The day after the event we start all over! That doesn’t mean that we do it every day. We like to do a post mortem to review what worked, what didn’t, how we can change it, who we can reel in support for next year even though everyone we approach is keen to pitch in. The reality is that there is something that comes up regularly through the year that relates to this event. We apply for support to the Minister of Wildlife, Forest and Parks in December for this derby.”
With over 30 strong supporters of the annual event including Fondation de la Faune du Québec-pêche en herbe, Canadian Tire, and the Service de la Protection de la Faune Montréal-montérégie, kids between 6 and 18 years old had the opportunity to register for their fishing licences after taking a small course from André Charbonneau. Those who did were given a free fishing rod. All participants who registered for the event were also given a backpack to carry their fish home in. Hot dogs, drinks, and other treats were doled out to everyone in attendance. Some joked about how the frozen yogurt was warming them up. It was cold.
The initiative gives kids a taste of the sport while learning about what kind of
Gleaming floors, sparkling windows, artwork adorning the walls, tickets sold out to hear renowned Canadian tenor Marc Hervieux, cocktails cooling at the cabaret-style bar, caterers drifting with sumptuous delicacies, ladies and gents in their finery — that was the formula at the site of the festive celebration for the completion of the two-phase project to renovate, enhance and make the Théatre Lac-brome, a yearround centre for professional performing arts last Saturday evening. No longer simply a seasonal operation, the renovated facility located in the heart of Knowlton has the capacity to operate year round.
Like all great projects that come to fruition, getting to this point was a challenge. By December 2016, Nicholas Pynes, the art and general manager of Théatre Lac-brome, was uncertain if the two-phase plan would be completed. However, December 23 news from Canada’s federal Minister of Heritage, Mélanie Jolie, announced that the amount requested would be issued in full.
The $600,000 project was largely supported by a $280,000 grant provided by the government of Canada through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund of Canadian Heritage. According to Pynes, although the organization has recently hired someone to coordinate events that
Hi! I am an 8-year-old guy, lightweight “construction” with one blue eye and one brown one! I am good with dogs and kids and I can get along with some cats. I arrived here with my 2-year-old “step-sister” Kina (you can see info about her on the website) because there was a separation in our family. We need new homes! Lots and lots of dogs and cats here need new homes! Thirteen new dogs came in to this shelter in the last week — and we are just one of many, many shelters worldwide! Please humans, don’t make us get born unless there is a place for us in this world…sterilize, sterilize, sterilize. We need this to be your mantra!
Come and visit us at the SPCA Montérégie, 178, ch. du Vide, Ste-angèle-demonnoir (exit 37 on autoroute 10). Adoption hours are 2-4 p.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays.
P.S. Fireworks and thunder/lightning season is upon us. Please, please protect us. We don’t want to go to see the fireworks; we don’t even want to ever hear fireworks. Keep/leave us at home safe with all the doors and windows closed. Too many dogs end up lost every year because of fireworks. Please pass the word around. We thank you. 450-460-3075 www.spcamonteregie.com www.facebook.com/spcamonteregie
fish live in the fresh water lakes in this area. Organizers want to encourage them to become active and respectful fishermen. The kids also have a chance to learn about equipment. Many of the participants have been coming to this event since they were toddlers.
This year it was 10-year-old Allie Woodard of Knowlton who won the trophy for the “nicest fish.” Vice-president of the Brome-bolton Club, Louis Delorme, said that this prize is based on not simply the biggest fish, but about the effort of the child. Allie caught this fish on her own without any parent intervention. And it was a nice looking fish too.” Winner of the bicycle raffle was Hunter Perkins from Brome village.
The organizers of the club are particularly grateful to the owner of the property who, on that specific morning of the event, allows visitors to visit the amazing aviary with over 25 exotic birds as well as his animals and “secret garden” overlooking Brome Lake. Participants are asked to park on the road rather than bringing vehicles into the property. That’s why the organizers set up a shuttle service thanks to many sponsors, including the Kubota outlet in Sutton. For some children the thrill of the ride on the all terrain vehicles might be the highlight of the day. Fish, food, exotic birds, goats and other animals, secret garden, rides on ATVS — all in all, a fabulous experience for the kids thanks to everyone’s generosity.
André Charbonneau was on hand to give youngsters a crash course on fish and fishing before issuing their fishing licenses and giving them each a free fishing rod, kindness of Quebec’s Foundation for Wildlife and Canadian Tire’s “Pêche en herbe” program.