2025 Grant Recipients

We are thrilled to announce that the Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby Grant Program received 11 excellent grant applications this year! After a thorough review by our entire committee, we are proud to be awarding $10,000 to support a variety of meaningful community projects in 2025.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the organizations that applied. Your passion, commitment, and contributions to our community are truly inspiring. We wish you great success with your upcoming initiatives!

We also extend our deepest gratitude to our incredible sponsors, dedicated participants, and tireless volunteers. Your continued support and generosity make this grant program possible. Because of you, we are able to strengthen our community and make a real difference—thank you!

This year’s community reinvestment totals an exciting $25,858! This includes: $10,000 in Grants, $12,953 distributed for CVO hours, $905 in Donations, and $2,000 for Bursaries.

2025 GRANT RECIPIENTS OF $10,000

Supporting Warmth and Comfort at the Library!

The Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby is proud to grant $1,500 to the Lac du Bonnet Regional Library toward the replacement of their aging heating and cooling system.

The new setup includes two electric furnaces and two cold climate heat pumps — both 100% Canadian made and designed for quiet, energy-efficient comfort all year round.

The library also provides space on Derby Day for our Fish Measuring Team to calculate the winners of the random length and time — a true example of community partnership!

We’re thrilled to help keep this vital community space warm in the winter and cool in the summer!

Growing Inclusion in the Garden!

The Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby is proud to grant $2,000 to the Lac du Bonnet Community Garden in support of their Growing Inclusion in the Garden project!

The garden aims to provide easy access, social connection, and opportunities for everyone to grow healthy, affordable food for themselves and the community. We’ve been inspired by the intergenerational connections — grandparents bringing grandchildren, three generations gardening together, and families sharing knowledge and experiences.

This year, the garden’s waterline was extended to make watering easy for everyone. By supporting accessibility and infrastructure, the Community Garden ensures that anyone who wishes to garden can do so, strengthening a space that truly grows community.

Supporting Technology Upgrades for the Fire & Water Music Festival!

The Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby is proud to grant $750 to the Fire & Water Music Festival for their Technology Upgrade Project!

This project allowed the Festival to purchase three tablets for fast, efficient electronic payment processing at the gate and merchandise sales, improving the experience for volunteers and attendees alike.

In addition, the Festival purchased one colour printer, enabling in-house printing of posters, flyers, tickets, and brochures — saving over $500 in printing costs this year and allowing for faster access to materials for future events.

These upgrades support the Festival’s self-generated revenue streams, ensuring the sustainability of this beloved community event while making operations smoother and more efficient.

Supporting Outdoor Recreation and Safety!

The Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby is pleased to announce a $750 grant to the Lac du Bonnet Wildlife Association for their Ice Auger & Weed Trimmer Replacement Project!

These tools are essential for maintaining the Trout Pond facility, ensuring safety and accessibility for everyone. The ice auger helps drill holes for the winter safety fence to keep the public away from open water and unsafe ice caused by the aeration system. It will also be used in ice fishing education programs for youth and other groups. The weed trimmer keeps the area around accessible fishing docks, washrooms, and interpretive signs well-maintained.

The LdBWA ponds attract anglers, paddlers, hikers, bird watchers, and more from across the province — providing outdoor recreation, education, and economic benefits to the community year-round.

Supporting the Spirit of Giving – One Gift at a Time!

The Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby is proud to grant $250 to the Kids Snowflake Bazaar to help fund bags and labels for their magical Christmas event!

The Kids’ Snowflake Bazaar creates a fun, safe, and inclusive holiday shopping experience where children shop independently for affordable gifts (just $0.25–$3.50) for their loved ones. Each child is guided by a volunteer and gets to wrap their gifts, building pride and excitement in giving.

The Bazaar’s impact goes beyond shopping—it fosters leadership, strengthens community connections, and ensures all kids, regardless of background, can enjoy the magic of giving. Volunteers, including local teens, gain meaningful experience and a stronger sense of purpose.

We’re honoured to support a project that brings joy to children and builds a more caring, connected community.

Supporting the Growth of the Memorial Park Outdoor Rink

We are pleased to announce that the Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby granted $2,000 in support of the Lac du Bonnet Outdoor Rink Project.

After facing challenges with the original Winter Trail project due to inconsistent ice and weather conditions, the Town of Lac du Bonnet Recreation took the lead on relocating the rink to Memorial Park to create a safer, more reliable space for everyone to enjoy. Use of the Outdoor Rink grew significantly this winter, with residents and community groups embracing the rink.

The Town of Lac du Bonnet Public Works Department plays a key role in the project, supporting the installation of the boards, site preparation, lighting, seating, and the warming shelter.

Funding from the Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby and other community organizations helped support recent upgrades, including new boards, lighting for evening skating, improvements to the warm-up shack, and electrical enhancements. This project is a strong example of community collaboration, with multiple partners coming together to create a valued and well-used local asset.

We are proud to support a project that strengthens community connections, enhances recreation opportunities, and continues to grow as a well-loved winter gathering place.

🪶 Celebrating Métis Heritage in Lac du Bonnet! 🪶

The Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby is proud to award a $2,000 grant to the Lac du Bonnet Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) Local in support of their Red River Cart – Phase 1 Project! 🎉

This inspiring, community-driven initiative will honour and celebrate the Métis heritage of Lac du Bonnet by constructing and displaying a traditional Red River Cart at the local museum. The exhibit will include an interactive educational component, sharing stories about Métis history, the impacts of colonization, and the important role the Red River Cart played in trade and transportation.

Through collaboration with the Lac du Bonnet & District Historical Society, this project will create a lasting, educational exhibit for students, residents, and visitors alike — fostering cultural awareness, pride, and ongoing reconciliation efforts.

Phase 1 (2025) focuses on building the cart’s base, a protective canopy, and confirming production, while Phase 2 (2026) will complete the cart and interpretive display. Once finished, this beautiful piece of living history will also travel to local parades and community events, ensuring Métis culture is visible and celebrated across the region.

The Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby is honoured to support initiatives that preserve heritage, strengthen community connections, and celebrate the stories that shape who we are.

2025 Grant recipients

2025 GRANT RECIPIENTS OF $10,000

16 YEARS OF GRANT FUNDINg

$115,344.25

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$115,344.25 〰️