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Chamber of commerce revamps Fish Kincardine Derby By Liz Dadson |
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The Fish Kincardine Derby is a go. The Kincardine and District Chamber of Commerce presented a business plan to Kincardine council at the meeting Wednesday night (March 16), and received full support for the event which runs May 20-29. Originally, the municipality was going to scrap the derby because no volunteers came forward to organize it. The chamber agreed to review it and come up with a recommendation. Bob Simpson of the chamber said rescuing the derby makes sense. It has been held for the past 25 years and kicks off the May 24th weekend every year. The chamber has revamped the derby somewhat in order to get it organized in such a short time period. It will now hold events at various establishments downtown rather than at the beach; it will increase volunteer participation; and it will work in partnership with the municipality, the Chantry Chinook Derby and the Kincardine Business Improvement Area (BIA). It will also provide the Lake Huron Fishing Club with a portion of the profits of the derby, with the remaining profits put into a derby reserve administered by the chamber. All expenses and revenue will be transparent. Simpson said cash sponsorship has come from the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), $2,500; an Enbridge grant, $1,200; Ontario Power Generation (OPG), $500; and various merchants, $1,200. And another $1,500 had just been donated that day in support of the derby, he said. Projected revenue is $9,500, and expenses are $7,750. Joining the chamber in support of the event are the Kincardine Fish Hatchery, NWMO, Canadian Tire, Erie Belle, Bruce Inn, Gilley's Feed Lot, Kincardine Legion, Dwindle's Dream Fishing Charters, Enbridge, BMO, Carruthers Nicol Insurance, Cottage Grocery in Inverhuron, Hi-Way Variety, Jean's Restaurant, Miller Insurance, OPG, Royal LePage Exchange Realty, Scotiabank, Bill Henderson, Jennifer Webb, Marie Wilson, Greg Pawlikowski, and Matt and Linda Luckhart. Simpson said there have been a number of myths about the derby. Firstly, that there is no support from the business community. "The local businesses want to be involved," he said. Secondly, there are no fish in the lake. Simpson said a letter from Al Wilkins of the Lake Huron Fishing Club indicates there are plenty of fish. Perch are being caught off the pier in Kincardine for the first time in 20 years. There are brown trout, walleye, lake trout, and salmon to be caught.
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Thirdly, it costs $50,000 to run the fish derby. "We put together a budget that's not near that number," said Simpson. And finally, there is no support from the anglers. Simpson said all the anglers the chamber spoke to plan to attend the event and were concerned that it might be cancelled. Many enjoy camping in Reunion Park during the derby. Simpson said the chamber was not coming to the municipality for money. All he asked was support through liability insurance; use of the weigh station; exempting the bylaw to allow camping at Reunion Park during the derby; and the public works department's assistance in dropping off and picking up garbage cans and picnic tables, and washroom maintenance. "Go for it," said councillor Maureen Couture, adding that the municipality has $2,900 in a Fish Kincardine Derby reserve fund, if the chamber needs it for such things as liability insurance costs. Councillor Kenneth Craig noted the chamber's presentation states that the chamber would be administering the reserves from the derby. However, since the derby is a municipal event, the municipality must do the administration. "I completely respect that," said Simpson. "But the fish derby will sink or swim on its own merits." Council agreed to support the four items requested by the chamber in order to make the derby a success this year. Co-chairing the event are Sue Bradley and Travis Crawford. Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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