The Manitoba Métis Federation local branch held its Father’s Day Fish Derby on June 15.
As in past years, it was exceptionally successful, not just in attendance (165 people took part) but in fish that were caught.
The tournament is hidden length in nature, so winners are based on the luck of the draw. And things couldn’t have been any luckier for a new Snow Lake father, Jordan Galloway, who took home top prize.
For the derby, entrants catch their fish and photograph it with a token given out at registration. They then enter their fish and the time of entry is noted. When the lengths are drawn, the person who has caught the fish closest to that length wins. In the event of a tie, the fish caught at the earlier time wins.
The winners in the 2014 derby were: first, $1,200, Jordan Galloway; second, $500, Shelby Stoupe; third, $200, Darcy Coulson; fourth, $100, Al Trottiér.
New additions
In other news, the Snow Lake Mining Museum has seen a number of new additions over the past month.
Firstly, on June 10 the museum was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Canadian Geological Foundation. This award came from the Thayer Lindsley Endowment Trust and will be used to purchase display cabinets for the museum’s rock and mineral exhibit.
Secondly, the mid-June installation of new siding has really spruced the building up. Thirdly, there are a couple of new flags waving wildly in the wind on the front of the building.
And finally, a new head-in-the-hole board was installed on the northwest side of the property. The board is a donation from Snow Lake’s Dave and Wanda (nee Fey) Williams. Dave himself made and installed the board.
Museum chairperson Paul Hawman can’t say enough about the initiative Williams put forward on his painting project and notes that he, fellow board members and curator Dori Forsyth are grateful for the overture.
Asked how the idea for the board manifested, Dave said Wanda was a member of the decorating committee for the Legion Ladies Auxilliary’s Oktoberfest last fall and he did something similar at that time. Through a suggestion from the museum’s curator, Dave came up with an idea for them as well.
After designing his creation, he put brush to surface in creating the board.
“We [he and Wanda] scanned through a lot of magazines looking at cartoons to come up with the idea,” said Dave. “I wanted a lot more in it, but the boss said, ‘Too much.’ We finally came up with this, then added the sign post. It all kind of grew from that.”
Williams said it didn’t take long to do the painting.
“A few hours after work each night,” he said.
“Seemed like a lot longer, when it was sitting in my hallway,” joked Wanda.
The plan was to have the board ready for July 1, and Dave met that deadline with time to spare.
“I enjoyed doing it, and it was for the community, so the more people who get some use out of it, the better,” he said.
My Take on Snow Lake runs Fridays.
