THUNDER BAY – The Kaministiquia River’s rubber duck population was up by nearly 2,000 for a short while on Saturday afternoon.
Hosted by Our Kids Count and the Kam River Fighting Walleye, the Kam River Ultimate Duck Race raised thousands of dollars for youth in the community.
Crowds lined the wharf at Fort William Historical Park, cheering on as the paddling of ducks made its way quickly down the river.
Brianna Bernst, promotions coordinator for the Kam River Fighting Walleye said it was important for the team, especially the younger players to help out.
“For us, it's important because we really like the kids helping kids. Our junior hockey players are moving throughout their hockey career and we're helping them grow and succeed,” she said.
“So, it's nice for us to be able to give back to the community and help Our Kids Count assist families grow and succeed as well.”
Following a close race, one duck was able to get ahead of the raft, crossing the finish line first, and winning its owner, Robert White, the grand prize of $10,000. The second duck won $5,000 and third and fourth won $2,500 each.
The event raised around 20 thousand dollars for Our Kids Count. Executive Director Jackie Knough said it was amazing to see so much support from the community that will allow them to keep doing their programming.
“At Our Kids Count, we work a lot with families needing food, security, parenting support,” she said. “We have a lot of programs for, pre/post-natal moms and we also have a big brother, big sister program. “We do a lot of things that our kids count and we're happy to provide free programming.”
With the success of the duck race, organizers are looking at hosting it again next spring.
To find out more about Our Kids Count and the kind of programming it offers, visit its website.
