2025 Grant Application Form
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2025 Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby: Survey Results Now Available!
Testimonial: Great job & hats off to all the organizers. What a wonderful fun family day!
Testimonial: Absolutely amazing Derby, drove 8 hours to be there. Looking forward to making it a yearly tradition now!
Testimonial: Great job everyone! Such a well run derby and I'll be back with my family again next year!
Hole Drilling Teams
Hole drilling at full speed! Watch as the Hole Drill team powers through 2,100+ holes in just 1 hour at the Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby on February 22, 2025!
This powerhouse team of 45 volunteers from the 249 Cadets Squadron in Beausejour, along with the Pinawa Panthers High School Hockey Team, tackled the challenge using 29 augers with energy and determination! Fast, focused, and frosty!
The Rush was on at the Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby!
At 10:00 am sharp, the excitement hit a fevered pitch as participants of the Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby raced out onto the ice to claim their favorite spot! It’s an exhilarating scene of anglers dashing with all their gear in tow, each one hoping to secure that perfect location for the day’s fishing adventure!
The rush is always electric as everyone knows— you never know who will be the lucky winner of the $15,000 cash prize fish! The competition is fierce, but the camaraderie and thrill of the derby make it an unforgettable experience for all. Who will reel in the big one this year?
This was more than just a fishing derby; it’s an all-out race for glory on the ice!
❤️ A Weekend of Joy, Community & Unforgettable Moments ❤️
A little girl from our community, Callie Violet Augustine, was diagnosed with leukemia in October 2024. Her aunt provides weekly updates. This week's update isn’t just about the hard moments—it’s about joy too.
"This weekend, joy came in the form of an incredible opportunity! Callie and her family were invited to take part in the Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby, an event that does far more than bring people together—it gives back. With over $248,000 reinvested into the community, this Derby is a shining example of generosity, unity, and the power of people coming together for something bigger than themselves.
The family had an unforgettable day out on the ice, making memories that will be cherished forever. And to top it all off, Hannah even won a youth prize! A heartfelt thank you to the Derby organizers for making this possible, for welcoming our family with open arms, and for allowing Sheyanna to speak—though the emotions ran deep, please know our gratitude is endless."
Hearing stories like Callie and her family's unforgettable day at the Derby is what makes everything we do so worthwhile. This event is about more than just fishing—it's about community, connection, and creating moments that will be cherished for a lifetime.
Callie, Hannah, Sheyanna, Colin and your entire family, thank you for allowing us to be part of your journey. Your kind words mean the world, and we are beyond grateful to have shared this special experience with you.
To everyone who participates, sponsors, volunteers and supports the Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby—you make these moments possible. Together, we’re building something truly meaningful. 💙
What an AMAZING day at the 17th Annual Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby
We had 1,394 anglers fish 1,587 holes! The excitement was off the charts, with 133 fish caught!
A special CONGRATULATIONS to Debbie Miller from La Broquerie for winning a whopping $15,000 for her 24 cm sauger caught at 12:26 pm!
Big thanks to our incredible sponsors, dedicated volunteers, and all the anglers and spectators who joined us for a beautiful day out on the ice.
This year, we tried something new by allowing spectators on the ice to share in the fun, and we had 86 spectators join in on the action! It was awesome to see the ice packed with even more energy and excitement.
We also want to give a shout-out to Grant Leutschaft (One Man Band) for keeping the crowd entertained while we tallied the winners.
Stay tuned for more info and pictures over the next few days, as we continue to reflect on this epic event!
Prizes @ Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby !
We are thrilled to announce that, due to an overwhelming response from our generous sponsors and the incredible support from the community, we awarded over $70,000 in cash and prizes on Derby Day! While the cash prizes remained at $26,000, the random prize draws, on-ice giveaways, raffle, and more exceeded $43,000!
This increase in prizes was a testament to the fantastic enthusiasm and generosity we received, and we were excited to share these amazing rewards with all of our participants. We were so glad to see everyone there and celebrate this exciting event together!
Since our beginning, we've been more than just an event – we’re a community-driven organization dedicated to giving back.
Thanks to your support, we’ve invested over $274,000 back into Lac du Bonnet through grants, student bursaries, and donations to local causes. Together, we’re building a stronger, more vibrant community for everyone.