Hunters and conservationists enjoyed a fun night last weekend in the effort to raise money for Ducks Unlimited.
The fundraising dinner, hosted by Ducks Unlimited, was held Saturday, March 28 at the Ponoka Legion. Such dinners generally bring in $25,000 to $30,000, explained James Ingoldsby, manager of events and volunteer relations.
He says the whole purpose of the fundraiser is to drive interest and to help with their wetlands conservation efforts. He remembers years ago Ducks Unlimited was a hunting organization but eventually evolved into what it is today.
“That’s still very important to us,” said Ingoldsby.
“The conservation and the hunting go together,” he added.
Among the many auction items at the fundraiser were signed hockey jerseys, vacation trips, special artwork and also hunting and fishing supplies. Ingoldsby says the items they have in their silent auctions are tailored to the attendees. He said he would be happy to see $30,000 raised at the dinner.
The money will go to important goals for the association. “We recently received $12 million of mitigation money of the floods of 2013 for the Bow River watershed,” he explained.
Ingoldsby says if there are floods again in the same area, a wetland area will be developed to mitigate flooding. He says the loss of wetlands continues at a rapid pace and he wants to help educate stakeholders on the importance of wetlands.
“It’s a huge thing in the future. Fresh water is in short supply everywhere,” he concluded.
Ducks Unlimited has strong routes in the United States as well as Mexico, and Ingoldsby says their volunteers are what makes the organization as successful as it is.