It would be an incredible understatement to say that the weather in Chestermere and other Southern Alberta communities has been a little crazy this summer. With everything from torrential downpours, wicked thunderstorms and even a tornado warning, aside from locusts and frogs…. It has almost been biblical.
So when the annual Waterfest celebration was upon us, it was a welcomed event as the community needed something to celebrate and an excuse to stop flood clean up and demolition. But, as Mother Nature seems to be having some sort of mental break down, as Waterfest progressed, a late afternoon severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the City of Chestermere and thus the very popular Rubber Duck Race was postponed.
The Rubber Duck Race is hosted by Synergy and it has grown in popularity over the years. Ducks for Bucks is an annual fundraiser for youth programs that usually takes place at Chestermere’s Water Festival, but this year was postponed to July 30th due to the thunderstorm warning that was issued the afternoon of Waterfest. Community members purchase their duck(s) and are assigned a number. Numbered ducks then race down Rainbow Falls in Olympic style heats. This year the race was not only postponed, but had to be relocated from the usual spot in Rainbow Falls to the canal at the end of West Chestermere Drive. The winners of the heats participate in the final race to determine who wins the prizes. The ducks are $5 each and all proceeds go to local youth programming.
So on July 30th, thanks to the great organization of Synergy, the flexibility of the community and the cooperation of Mother Nature, the ducks hit the water and raced down the canal. This year’s race winners were:
1st Prize – $200 Gift Certificate to Lifepath Medspa: duck #204 – Trisha Pilling
2nd Prize – Gift Basket from the Waiting Room Café: duck #32 – Yuri Virk
3rd Prize – $50 Gift Certificate to Fun Works Studio: duck #241 – Jeanette Bailey
Synergy would like to give a special thank you so much to everyone who bought a duck this year and to all of our volunteers and sponsors. This year’s race was made possible by:
Synergy Youth Intern: Steven Burness and Volunteers: Tommy Fleger, Justin Bon, Danielle Dekort, Briane Sproule
