The Creston branch of Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is hosting its annual fundraising banquet in a month, and tickets are going quickly — two-thirds have sold already, and the event is on track to sell out early.
Seating was expanded to accommodate last-minute tickets buyers last year, but organizers found it made the event too crowded, so sales will be restricted to 232 this year.
“This behooves people to buy their tickets early, as this year we may well sell out well before the week prior, as we did last year,” said banquet committee member Lou Knafla.
The Oct. 3 event is always popular, and more than simply a banquet, which again includes prime rib, along with wines from Skimmerhorn Winery and Vineyard and Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery. Silent and live auctions are also on the schedule, featuring items sent to the Creston committee by DUC, and many products donated by local artists and businesses. There will be raffles, too, along with a new game.
“It will lighten things up a little bit,” said Knafla.
It’s been such a successful fundraiser that the committee has earned two awards from the Suzuki Canadian Dealer Foundation: the Regional Most Improved Chapter of the Year and the Regional Chapter of the Year awards.
Last year’s banquet raised $24,932 for DUC, all which is put back into projects at the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area (CVWMA).
“In 2014, Ducks Unlimited Canada partnered with CVWMA and contributed $50,000 towards repairs at the Duck Like cross-dike, and helped with the repairs of one of the two Duck Lake pumps, as well as replace the starter control for the pumps,” said Knafla. “DUC will be providing $40,000 in 2015 to be used toward infrastructure repairs and habitat management.”
In coming months, DUC will continue to work closely with the CVWMA on the wetland infrastructure.
“In addition, the DUC staff worked collaboratively with the CVWMA and provincial biologists in preparing an updated management plan to guide future management and operations activities,” said Knafla. “This draft plan will be presented to the public later this coming year.”
Tickets are available at Mawson’s Sports. The banquet starts with drinks and hors d’ouvres at 5:30 p.m.; dinner starts at 7.