Paddling News

The annual Winterfest fundraising dinner will take place Saturday at the Canadian Canoe Museum, 910 Monaghan Rd., from 5:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. A joint fundraiser between the museum and the outdoor education program at Kenner Collegiate, it began five years ago, says organizer John Curtis. Written by: Joanne Culley

The annual Winterfest fundraising dinner will take place Saturday at the Canadian Canoe Museum, 910 Monaghan Rd., from 5:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. A joint fundraiser between the museum and the outdoor education program at Kenner Collegiate, it began five years ago, says organizer John Curtis.

"Last year we raised $10,000, which meant $5,000 for the museum and $5,000 for Kenner," says Curtis, a teacher at Kenner Collegiate as well as a volunteer at the museum. "The school bought canoes with the money. Grade 11 and 12 students taking the outdoor education course go on day and overnight canoe trips to Camp Medeba in Haliburton, as well as receiving training."

Last year the event was fully booked, with 140 people. "This year, we've sold 115 tickets so far, so we're looking to fill the extra seats before Saturday," Curtis says. "We'll take reservations right up until the event."

Guests will have a social time before the dinner, as well as tours of the museum. "Many people who haven't visited the museum before are pleasantly surprised by the collection," he says.

Dinner will be prepared by chef Peter Poley and students from the culinary arts program at Kenner. There will be a choice of entrees - prime rib, stuffed salmon prima vera, or chicken cordon bleu, which guests will select when purchasing their tickets.

After dinner, there will be silent and live auctions and a dance to the music of the group Afterthought, as well as a student musical group. Some of the auction items include tickets to a Toronto Maple Leafs game, a Hudson Bay blanket, a Kawartha Downs package, kitchen cupboard organizers from Home Depot, and a print by artist Charles Pachter.

Tickets are $50 each, or $10 for just the dance. Tickets are available at the museum or by calling Curtis at 657-3677.

Raffle tickets are now on sale for a 16-foot Evergreen Kevlar and ash prospector canoe donated by Mountain Equipment Co-op.

Tickets are $10 each and are available at the museum.

The draw will be on Friday, June 6, 2008.

More info: The Canadian Canoe Museum
Article Source: thepeterboroughexaminer.com