Delta Waterfowl brings first-ever ‘Duck-Tastic Date Night’ fundraiser to Brockville

After years of hosting sold-out fundraising dinners in Kingston, the 1000 Islands chapter of Delta Waterfowl is expanding east, introducing a new conservation fundraiser to Brockville later this summer.

The chapter will host its inaugural Duck-Tastic Date Night on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Cedar Valley Golf and Country Club in Brockville, offering an evening of food, prizes and fundraising for wetland conservation, waterfowl habitat and other community programs throughout the region.

According to chapter president Ken Power, the decision to bring the event to Brockville was driven by high demand.

“The 1000 Islands Chapter has been active for approximately 12 years,” Power told Brockvilleist. “Each year we host an annual fundraising dinner in the Kingston area that attracts between 250 and 300 people, but this year it sold out on the very first day.”

Sadly, that left many Brockville-area supporters unable to attend.

“We wanted to create an opportunity for those regular supporters who were unable to attend,” Power explained. “To address this, we wanted to create an opportunity for those regular supporters who were unable to attend. Lance Holmes, the Chapter’s Vice President, noted that other chapters have successfully hosted similar events, inspiring us to take action.”

The evening will begin with doors opening at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. Organizers describe the event as “a great cause and a great night together,” combining conservation with a relaxed social evening.

While the fundraiser celebrates waterfowl and the outdoors, Power said the money raised has a much broader impact than many people realize.

Funds from the event will be deposited into the organization’s Waterfowl Heritage Fund account, a dedicated program that enables local chapters to support conservation efforts and promote hunter recruitment at the community level.

Among the programs benefiting from the fundraiser are the installation and maintenance of nesting structures that provide safe breeding habitat for ducks, helping offset habitat loss while protecting birds from predators.

The chapter also organizes shoreline cleanups to help preserve local waterways and wetlands, while investing in youth education programs that teach conservation principles and ethical hunting practices to the next generation.

Beyond conservation, the chapter donates approximately $1,000 each Christmas to families in need, while also hosting free mentored hunts that introduce new hunters to safe and ethical hunting over a two-day experience.

Another signature initiative supported by the yearly fundraiser is the Veterans Hunt, a complimentary event created to recognize and thank Canadian veterans for their service.

Power stressed that every one of those programs depends on local fundraising support.

“The 1000 Islands region sits on the Frontenac Arch. This makes the region one of the most important migratory corridors in North America,” Power noted. “Its wetlands serve as vital ‘stepping stones’ and stopover points where migrating birds, waterfowl, and butterflies can rest, forage, and breed.”

Protecting those habitats, Power said, benefits not only wildlife but also future generations who enjoy the outdoors.

“Participating in conservation helps ensure that public lands remain open, clean, and accessible for future generation,” he told Brockvilleist. “It fosters a culture of stewardship rather than consumption. When hunters actively work to improve the land, it strengthens community relationships and demonstrates a shared commitment to environmental responsibility, securing the social license required to keep outdoor traditions alive.”

For the organization, Duck-Tastic Date Night represents more than just another fundraising dinner; it is an opportunity to introduce more Brockville-area residents to Delta Waterfowl’s conservation work while expanding support for ongoing and future projects.