Ways Mills to host duck race this weekend
The water in Ways Mills will be turning yellow this coming Saturday afternoon, May 29, as 100 rubber ducks are dropped into the river in the community’s first charity duck race.
According to organizer Nicole Poitras the sale of the ducks already succeeded in raising $2,000 which will be split between the winners of the race and the Ways Mills Union Church.
“The two churches are basically tourist attractions,” Poitras said, explaining that she got involved with the committee that looks after the Union Church shortly after moving the community in 2017. Although it and the neighbouring Church of the Epiphany have services a few times per year, she said they mainly operate as rental spaces for people looking to celebrate big moments like weddings or baptisms in picturesque surroundings.
“There are no regular masses and there have not been for several years,” she said noting that the lack of a dedicated worship community has led to a decrease in the amount of donations that the committee can then put towards building maintenance. “In 2019 we brought in $140 in donations, but we can’t really do anything with that.”
Poitras said that the idea of a duck race came from a friend who lives in Markham, Ontario where a similar but larger-scale event takes place every year.
“I ordered a bunch of ducks, and it only took three days to sell them,” she said, noting that the idea proved an excellent way to get people involved in fundraising.
Each duck sold for $20, and the organizer said that the first, second, and third place ducks will be taking home cash prizes of $500, $300 and $200, respectively.
Planned carefully with Covid in mind, Poitras said that the committee has made a day of the event, with a plan to open the church for visits, a plant sale, and an outdoor hotdog lunch. Thanks to donations from local farmers and businesses, the proceeds from the plant and food sales will also be contributing to the fundraising cause.
Poitras said that visitors are going to be encouraged to stick to their own family bubbles, and that security has been hired to help make sure that people respect social distancing measures.
Activities in Ways Mills get started at 11 a.m. with the ducks crossing the starting line at 2 p.m.
“(The Church) needs a little loving, so this will be a way to invest some time in it before it starts to fall apart.”