While the ducks moved on the river ever so slowly, those in attendance couldn’t keep their eyes off the action, anxiously awaiting to hear who the eventual winner would be.

Roaming the waterway in a motorboat, MRC Warden Jane Toller, Mansfield et Pontefract Mayor Gilles Dionne and Fort Coulonge Mayor Gaston Allard were on hand to drop the rubberducks in the water and recollect them once the races finished.

With a large, triangular barrier made of pool noodles floating on one side of the bridge, ducks were dropped in the water on the other end and slowly moved with the current towards the finish line.

In both races, the first three ducks to touch the tip of the noodle triangle were the lucky prize winners.

According to l’Entourelle’s Community Worker Vanessa Chabot, the event is the most profitable fundraiser for the organization, having raised around $4,000 in their first edition.

Last year, the organization used the funds to purchase toys and play structures for kids, while this year’s proceeds will be used to cover unexpected fees that came with the floods from last spring.

“We had a water leakage in our basement and other big purchases,” she said. “So, it’s really just to raise money.”

While participation somewhat declined for this year’s race, Chabot understood stating that two other duck races were taking place in the region at the same time.

After the event, Chabot was very grateful for everyone who contributed to the event, from the volunteers, the spectators to those who purchased rubber ducks to participate.

“The biggest part of our fundraisers is the community’s support and our volunteers and our employees,” she said.

Having been a success in it’s first two iterations, Chabot is excited to bring back the fundraiser next year, hopefully making it bigger and better than the previous two.

At the end of the two races, Dionne took home the grand prize in the duck race and a trip to Montreal. Second place went to Lucille Lanois who earned a $200 basket of alcohol and the third-place winner, The Little Red Wagon Winery and a free massage session in Aylmer.

In the duckling race, the big winner was Stephane Durocher who came out with fishing getaway at Bryson Lake Lodge valued at $500.

Second place went to Doris Morin who brought home a basket of craft beer products from Brauwerk Hoffman and Donna Seeley won the third place prize of three yoga sessions and a wine bottle from the Little Red Wagon Winery.

For Dionne, the victory came as quite unexpected. Nonetheless, he’s excited for his chance to head to the big city and hopefully catch a Montreal Canadiens game while he’s there.

As for the rest of the trip, he joked that the planning wasn’t exactly up to him to decide.

“I don’t know yet,” he said. “First, I have to check with my boss – my wife.”

Event organizer Vanessa Chabot reveals the big prize winners after the main event.

Dionne plays the hero as he carries MRC Warden Jane Toller off the boat after the races.

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