Hundreds of ducks were recently released below the Bearberry Creek’s weir amid a steady flow fuelled by rains that kept volunteers scrambling to keep up.
But the helping hands, some equipped with nets, were able to ensure that none of the plastic floating toys managed to escape further downstream past the Centre Street Bridge during the fifth annual Great Bearberry Duck Race, an organizer said.
“It was quite fast,” said Leona Bennett, treasurer of the Sundre and District Aquatic Society, which operates the Aquaplex, about the water’s flow.
During last year’s fundraising event for the indoor pool and fitness centre, the creek was not running anywhere near as quickly, and the ducks slowly meandered their way toward the finish line. But this time around, the rather rapid water substantially hastened the race’s pace, and even though the creek isn’t very deep, the volunteers donned lifejackets for safety’s sake, Bennett said.
“We could barely keep up,” she said, chuckling. “It was quite funny!”
Any stragglers that got stuck along the creek’s banks were also scooped up and tossed back into the race, while a net underneath the Centre Street Bridge with two other volunteers behind it helped ensure none of the ducks escaped, she said.
“All of the ducks had to be picked up.”
Wyatt McDonald, left, and Carroll Pruner intercept rubber ducks downstream ahead of the Centre Street Bridge.
Although this summer has been rather wet so far, the sun shone on Saturday, July 13, when the crowd gathered to cheer from the footbridge spanning the creek. All 500 ducks, which are each numbered, were again sold, she said.
Placing first was Danielle LaVergne, from the Olds area, who won the top $500 prize. The runner-up was Susie Smith, from Sundre, who ended up winning $275. In third and fourth place were, respectively, Sundre residents Marie Griffith, who won a family 10-punch pass for the Aquaplex, and Brian Abdeman, who was presented with an adult 10-punch pass, she said.
The duck sale alone brought in about $5,000. But an additional roughly $2,500 — for a total of approximately $7,500 — was raised through a bake sale, a 50/50 draw as well as a silent auction featuring more than 30 locally donated items that had been ongoing for about a month, she said.
Aquafit program members Jean Noel and Gil Reap, who are no strangers to volunteering their time in support of the facility, organized the bake sale, which Bennett called, “a big hit. They did an excellent job.”
“We really do appreciate all of the volunteers who help us because otherwise we wouldn’t be able to do this.”
Additionally, burgers and hotdogs were served, while face painting as well as chalk to colour sidewalks was available for children, she said.
“It was a great day for the Aquaplex.”
People watch rubber ducks float along Bearberry Creek during the 5th annual Great Bearberry Duck Race on July 13. Noel West/MVP Staff
