Support fellow lake-lovers, support Lake Winnipeg!
Each year, lake-lovers of all ages channel their hobbies and talents into fundraising events for a healthy Lake Winnipeg: from lemonade stands to art shows to recreational activities!
Here are just some of the events and initiatives happening this summer:
Lake Winnipeg PaperCut Maps (ongoing initiative): Multi-media artist Gail Bacosa-Puhawan creates beautiful bathymetric maps of Manitoba lakes using cut paper, with relative depths illustrated by use of gradients of blue cardstock. Ten per cent of sales from her Lake Winnipeg piece will be donated to LWF. (Connect with Gail on Instagram, or visit her website to place your order today!)
Playing for the Lake (July 26; Aug. 16): In what has now become an annual tradition, classically trained guitarist and luthier Fred Casey is performing a season of summer concerts at the Whytewold Emporium, donating all money raised from these busker-style gigs to LWF. You have two chances left to catch one of Fred’s 2019 shows! (Tip: Make reservations as we hear they often sell out.)
Swamp Milkweed Sale (July): Based in Selkirk, Man., native plant nursery Prairie Originals is donating a portion of proceeds from the sales of all Swamp Milkweed sold over the month of July to LWF. This wildflower creates habitat for the monarch butterfly, and is a great plant for shorelines, meadows or wetlands. (It grows wonderfully in urban gardens, too!)
Community Save The Lake Yard Sale (July 27): Organized by a group of lake-lovers in Matlock, all proceeds raised from this community sale will be donated to LWF. The sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Corner of Community Rd and Dalton Ave, across from the tennis courts and Julia’s Restaurant.
Victoria Beach Waterman Challenge (July 27): This family-friendly event for all ages and experience levels features races in stand up paddle boarding, windsurfing and kiteboarding (or a combination!), followed by a barbeque. Entrance fee is $20 per athlete with all proceeds donated to LWF. Though weather dependent, the plan is for registration to start at 10 a.m., with races starting at noon. Stay updated on the Victoria Beach Waterman Challenge’s Facebook page.
Victoria Beach card sale (ongoing initiative): Robin Jewers creates unique cards using photographic images from Victoria Beach and Lake Winnipeg, and donates a portion of proceeds from every sale to LWF. Find her work for around the VB area.
Sun Country Arts and Crafts Sale (Aug. 10): Hosted by Sun Country Arts and Crafts Inc. this Aug. 10 show showcases the work of local artisans and crafters, and will incorporate fundraising for LWF. Head indoors at the Victoria Beach Community Centre from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for the chance to purchase unique made-in-Manitoba products including pottery, jewelry, wood-working, fabric art, knitting, handmade soaps, gourmet foods and more.
Lake Winnipeg Bathymetric Maps and Victoria Beach Maps (ongoing initiative): Artisan Jill Patrick uses Baltic Birch, card stock and matte board to create laser-cut bathymetric maps of Lake Winnipeg, as well as street maps of Victoria Beach and other lakeside communities. For each piece sold, a donation will be made to the Lake Winnipeg Foundation. Visit Jill’s website to order yours today!
Manitoba by Manitoba (ongoing initiative): A follow-up to McNally Robinson Booksellers’ 2013 offering Winnipeg by Winnipeg, Manitoba by Manitoba: Images of the Province by its Citizens features stunning shots of Manitoba’s people and landscape, taken by amateur and professional photographers. Ten per cent of the proceeds of the book will be donated to the Lake Winnipeg Foundation.
Cycling for Solutions (Aug. 30 - Sept. 1): Returning for its fifth year, the 2019 initiative will once again challenge amateur cyclists to complete an ambitious, three-day, 500 km self-supported road trip from Winnipeg. Man. to IISD-Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA), Ont. Riders pay their own expenses and accept financial donations in support of the Lake Winnipeg Community-Based Monitoring Network. More details on this year’s ride will be released in August.
Be sure to check our online calendar throughout the season to stay updated on what’s happening in your community. We’ll also be promoting independently organized events on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Do you have a great idea for a fundraiser? Let us know! We can offer marketing assistance and other outreach tools that can help make your initiative a success.
