Annual fishing derby on hiatus

BELWOOD – The fish in Belwood Lake can swim a little easier this May.

The Belwood Lions Pike Derby, an annual fundraiser supporting the Groves Hospital Foundation, is cancelled this year.

“The fish get a break,” said Belwood Lions Club derby chair Gordon Hufnagel.

He told the Advertiser that pending renovations to the Centre Wellington-owned Belwood Hall, used as a base for the derby, led the club to cancel the event.

Interior upgrades, replacement of a septic system and construction of an accessible entrance, at a cost of $1.87 million, are planned for the hall.

The club uses computer-based registration and an electronic scoreboard for the derby, previously stored at the hall.

“We are really kind of at wits' end about how we could possibly run the event,” Hufnagel said.

The alternative was an adjacent pavilion, but Hufnagel said it wouldn’t work and anglers were asking why registration didn’t open as usual in February.

“We had to make a decision,” Hufnagel said, noting he was hoping to talk to the hall contractor about a work-around for the weekend.

But the township doesn’t yet have a contractor for the work.

Centre Wellington building manager Kasey Beirnes told the Advertiser a project tender was sent to contractors this week. The bidding period ends at the end of the month.

Beirnes stated in an email construction is anticipated to begin around late April.

The Lions Club has relocated to a storage unit the supplies from its “lion's den” in the hall, which it rents from the township and helps to maintain.

The hall is now closed.

Beirnes said the township worked with the Lions Club to “explore possible alternate arrangements” and confirmed the nearby boat launch would remain available.

“The primary challenge would have been identifying an alternate location to serve as the base of operations for the derby,” Beirnes said.

The impact of the hall construction goes beyond the derby, Beirnes noted.

The hall is booked for summer camps, family reunions, community programming and other events.

Beirnes said the renovations are necessary to address accessibility requirements and aging infrastructure.

“The township is working to complete the work as efficiently as possible,” Beirnes said.

He added the municipality continues “to work with and speak with the club about their involvement and contributions to this important project.”

This year would have marked the 44th derby, according to Hufnagel.

He said many participants return each year, competing to catch the record-setting pike and walleye.

The record for the longest pike ever caught at the event is 28.5 inches, and for a walleye, it's 23.6 inches.

The first-place catches for pike and walleye categories are awarded $2,000 and $1,500 respectively.

There are youth prize categories as well, and children are given rods and reels.

Each year, $10,000 raised from derby registration fees, in addition to sponsorships, is donated to the Groves Hospital Foundation for equipment purchases.

“It’s our major fundraiser,” Hufnagel said of the derby, adding he's uncertain how the club will honour its commitment this year.

The hospital foundation did not respond to a request for comment on March 6.

Hufnagel is also concerned the club will lose sponsorship momentum with the cancellation.

“I hope to address and send off letters to all the sponsors this weekend and explain,” Hufnagel said of the club's decision.

He’s already looking forward to next year’s event, always scheduled for the weekend after Victoria Day.

“Our motto is ‘we serve’ and the best thing we can do is raise money for community organizations and community good,” he said.