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Rotarians change Campbell River duck race format

The Daybreak Rotary Club has changed the format of the annual fundraiser and taken it off the Campbell River altogether
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Daybreak Rotary Club president Kelly Fisher (front) poses with her fellow Rotarians and some rubber duckies at the new location for the Quacker 5000

No chance of losing any rubber duckies in this year’s version of the Quacker 5000 Rotary Duck Race.

That’s because they won’t be dumped into the Campbell River to drift downstream to the finish line and be scooped up with dip nets.

The Daybreak Rotary Club has changed the format of the annual fundraiser and taken it off the Campbell River altogether. This year it will be held at Centennial outdoor pool on Sunday, Aug. 26 at 1 p.m. in partnership with the City of Campbell River.

But wait, you ask, what kind of race can that be? Well, it won’t be a race, so much, but it still promises to be a fun day. Hopefully, more fun according to race co-ordinator Craig Gillis.

“We’re trying to make it a family fun day,” Gillis said.

Locating it at the outdoor pool and adjacent Centennial Park, allows for the Rotarians to plan numerous fun activities at the event site. There will be face painting, bounce-a-ramas, fish pond, petting zoo, hockey shoot as well as a barbecue and much more.

The Rotarians decided it was time for a change for the race. The old location on the river at the Campbell River Lodge.

“We’re excited about it because we felt that it was time to really look at our duck dip and really focus it as a family event,” Gillis said.

The newly-coined Duck Dip will raise funds for the new water park as well as make a connection between the Centennial Pool and the community. Centennial Park is more central for all Campbell Riverites to access. It is expected the new water park will be operating by the time the Duck Dip is held.

The public can still buy a duck but this time they will be dumped into the pool by a crane and celebrity dippers will use specially-designed dip nets and pull out the winning ducks.

The prizes include a $5,000 in cash first prize, a Canucks package (accommodation and two game tickets worth $1,500) second prize and a one-hour helicopter ride for three as a third prize. There are also 14 other prizes. Tickets are $10 and are available at Save On Foods, Thrifty Foods, Discovery Foods and Quality Foods, the Ppier Street Farmers Market (Sundays, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) or from any Daybreak Rotarian.