Ducks Unlimited’s Tourond Creek Chapter is celebrating their thirtieth anniversary with an event at Whitetail Meadow.
The organization, which supports local wetlands preservation, will be hosting their annual fundraising dinner and auction on October 14, where they hope to raise $20,000 to put towards projects in southern Manitoba.
Started by a few local members of the community, the Tourond Creek Chapter seeks to make a difference and leave a conservation legacy in the area by raising funds and giving their chapter control of where the resources are allocated and which projects are a priority. To date, the chapter has raised $406,321.
“That money is unrestricted funds that DU can use for projects in our province, like the project on [Highway] 311 and St. Mary’s Road or for research and development projects, such as the technology used for the reclamation of the old lagoon in Niverville,” explains Nicole De Pauw of Ducks Unlimited.
In 2009, the Town of Niverville worked with agencies in the decommissioning of their 37-year-old lagoon using wetland processes. This first-of-its-kind project not only allowed the town to spend one-third of the cost of a traditional approach, but it also paved the way for a sustainable alternative for small communities.
De Pauw, who has been volunteering with Ducks Unlimited for the past 20 years and was recently recognized as the organization’s Manitoba Volunteer of the Year, explains that wetland conservation is an integral part of everyday life, determining whether something as simple as drinking water remains uncontaminated.
Through their annual fundraisers, the Tourond Creek Chapter can ensure that the wetlands continue to be preserved in southern Manitoba.
The October 14 event starts at 4:00 p.m. with a family-style home-cooked dinner and interactive raffles and games, as well as an open bar. The live auction will take place after dinner and will feature a Winnipeg Jets package, as well as other items including furniture and art.
“Wetlands conservation benefits every person and living thing in Manitoba because wetlands filter our drinking water of contaminants,” says De Pauw. “Water is something we all need, so if we can make small changes that benefit wetlands, we should do so.”
