LWF's 2025 summer in review

Posted: September 10, 2025

We kicked off our busy 20th summer season with Walk for Water in Victoria Beach on July 13. Thanks to the incredible efforts of the organizing committee, we were excited to welcome over 200 participants! The Village Green was vibrant with smiling faces and kids in tie-dyed t-shirts, while Victoria Beach resident Ted Turk played his original song about Lake Winnipeg: The Gray Lady.

The community was honoured to have Manitoba Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Mike Moyes, attend the event. Minister Moyes brought greetings from the provincial government and participated in a Q&A session with VB residents, responding to concerns about the ongoing impact of algal blooms on the lake.

Thank you to our sponsors: Quintex, James Richardson & Sons Limited, EY, and Manitoba Hydro.

Returning for its sixth year on August 8th, the Bike to the Beach event was a little different in 2025. Unfortunately, the day of the event was incredibly smoky, as was much of Manitoba’s summer. With an air quality index over 10, conditions were not safe for the ride.

Instead, cyclists, organizers and supporters gathered at the VB Clubhouse to celebrate record-breaking fundraising efforts, sheltered from the smoke and torrential downpour outside. Scott McDonald, BttB Event Chair, thanked the many people who made this success possible, including event sponsors: Canada Life, Parrish & Heimbecker, Pollard Banknote, Qualico, Quadrant Private Wealth, Franklin Templeton Investments, Filmore Riley, Crosier Kilgour, Payworks, Fort Group, Fetch Pet Insurance, Winnipeg Building & Decorating LTD, Birchwood, Woodcock Cycle Works, and Manitoba Cycling Association.

The following day, when the smoke cleared, a group of cyclists gathered to pedal from Victoria Beach to Grand Beach, completing a group ride to honour the effort and energy of Bike to the Beach.

For our final event of the summer, we were thrilled to return to the Village of Dunnottar to celebrate our 20th anniversary. On August 24, seventy people (and two dogs!) gathered in Whytewold Park with palpable enthusiasm for the return of Walk for Water in Dunnottar. The weather added to the joy, as having a clear and sunny morning felt like a rare blessing after a summer of intense smoke and surprising thundershowers.

We were honoured to be joined by many of LWF’s founding members. Former board chair Bruce Smith spoke of the initial meetings at which LWF emerged as a grassroots force speaking up for the health of Lake Winnipeg. Dunnottar mayor Rick Gamble, LWF’s founder, ceremonially began the walk – the first in the village since 2019.

Continuing the celebrations after the walk, participants enjoyed cupcakes generously donated by Julia’s Place. Local businesses donated a variety of raffle prizes, and attendees visited booths set up by Ponemah Beach Central’s Art Hive, Adventure Smart and the East Interlake Watershed District. The Johnston Group both sponsored and cheerfully volunteered at this event.

LWF’ s incredible 20th summer was a huge success, thanks to the dedicated community volunteers who visioned, planned, organized and delivered these inspiring events. Thank you for sharing your time and energy with us. From the beginning, LWF has been built by this grassroots passion and commitment, recognizing the power that is possible when we come together to take action for the lake we love. Now, as always, LWF members are our greatest strength – and we look forward to all that we will achieve together in the next 20 years.