Skip to content

Boreal Discovery Centre holding fundraising run June 8

Vale will match up to $50,000 in donations to centre between that date and end of September
boreal discovery centre logo

The Boreal Discovery Centre (BDC) is encouraging physical activity and raising money for its operations with its first-ever Walk, Run, Bike for the Boreal event June 8.

The fundraiser will consist of two-kilometre, five-kilometre and 10-kilometre routes. Registration will open at 9 a.m., with the two longer routes leaving the starting line at 10 a.m. and the two-kilometre Family Fun Run beginning an hour later.

Entering the events will cost $20 per person for the longer routes, and $5 per person or $20 per family for the fun run. People who register before June 5 will be entered in an early bird draw to win an annual family pass to the BDC. Participants are also invited to collect pledges to donate to the centre, with those who raise $100 entered in a draw to win a bike and those who raise $250 or more eligible to win two return flights to Winnipeg.

The day’s events will also include free kids’ activities, snacks and prizes for participants and a fundraising barbecue and concession.

“This is the most exciting public fundraising event we’ve attempted to date. It covers so many aspects of what we strive to achieve in our programming – from outdoor activities to family outings – and the money raised will help expand our current programming,” said BDC chairperson Monique Lahaie in a press release, noting that Vale Manitoba Operations has agreed to match every dollar donated to the BDC between June 8 and Sept. 30 up to a maximum of $50,000. “The offer by Vale to match pledges is truly generous and will go a long way to help us meet our goals for 2019.”

Registration and pledge forms are on the BDC website at www.borealdiscoverycentre.org and can be picked up at the centre on Saturdays and Sundays, or by emailing a request to either borealdc@gmail.com or to Tara Ritchie at tara.ritchie@vale.com.

The BDC and Spirit Way received $164,060 from the federally funded Churchill Regional Economic Development (CRED) fund in November towards the development of an International Wolf Study Centre on the BDC grounds.

“The purpose of the grant was to help the two organizations develop a governance structure, business plan and architectural design for a study centre on the site occupied by the Boreal Discovery Centre,” says Keith MacDonald, Spirit Way president and BDC treasurer.

A 1.25-acre wolf habitat with a forested area, trickling stream, pond, berms, dens and an animal care service zone has already been completed. The wolf study centre building is the last component and the BDC will take over its maintenance, operations and programming once it is completed.

“The wolf study centre will contribute to the Boreal Discovery Centre’s goal of being a major educational centre for northern residents and tourists who travel to Churchill,” said Lahaie. “It will also help the BDC diversify Thompson’s economy and take a step towards gaining another Manitoba Star Attraction.”

Spirit Way project co-ordinator Volker Beckmann said in October that Spirit Way hoped to $1 million for the wolf centre within the next 18−20 months.

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks