The inaugural Hailey’s Way fishing derby in Gimli a few weeks ago was a huge success, with almost 500 people dropping a line into Lake Winnipeg to help support youth programs offered by the registered charity.
The derby took place on March 7, with support from the popular Gimli Ice Festival, which took place on the same weekend.
The derby offered a spectacular line-up of prizes, including $10,000, $3,000 and $1,500 for the top three winners in the adult category and 29 prizes for youth anglers.
Finn Snow, 10, said he loved taking part in the derby. He came home with a second-place prize for a 40 cm walleye (pickerel) he caught.
“I was really excited for most of the time. I was anxious that two people were going to catch bigger fish than me,” said Finn in a video address shared by his mom. “But I really liked the prize I got.”
Finn held up a Meta virtual reality system that offers gaming and entertainment.
“Excitement and joy [when I won],” said Finn, when asked how he felt about winning a prize. “Thank you Dana [DesRoches] and Hailey’s Way for getting the prize.”
In addition to Finn, youth winners were Connor Buellman (first place) for a 42 cm walleye, Sophia McPherson (third place) for a 32 cm sauger, Henrik Vigfusson (fourth place) for a 31 cm walleye, Lily Fung (fifth place) for a 26 cm walleye, and Noah Celestine (sixth place) for a 24 cm sauger.
Prizes for the kids were selected by Hailey’s Way youth committee members. Other prizes were drawn by name, and didn’t require anyone to catch a fish.
Dana DesRoches, the founder of the Haley’s Way charity, said dozens of businesses and individuals generosity provided the prizes and practical support, and they got scores of volunteers to help out on derby day.
“Our first annual Hailey’s Way Ice Fishing Derby was a great success with over 80 volunteers and 42 businesses and individuals sponsoring the events through monetary and in-kind donations, and they donated prizes,” said DesRoches. “We could not have done it without their support, as well as the support of the Gimli Ice Festival.”
DesRoches set up the charity in her daughter Hailey’s name in 2022 to provide Interlake youth with options for participating in safe, organized activities such as sports, art, music and education, and to help them build self-esteem and engage in personal growth.
Her daughter, Hailey Dugay, 20, was killed in 2018 in Fraserwood after a man opened fire on a vehicle she was riding in and fatally struck her. DesRoches set up the charity as a legacy to Hailey and to give back to Gimli and surrounding communities, which supported her and her family after the tragedy.
The RM of Gimli and Adam Stringer of Stringer’s Rentals and the Gimli Home Hardware store were a “driving force” in getting the derby site prepared — which included parking — for the charity.
“We got lots of positive feedback about it providing increased accessibility for all ages and abilities,” said DesRoches. “Our team of volunteers were able to drill just over 1,000 holes, and we had approximately 470 holes fished. Thirty-nine fish were caught.”
For more information about the Hailey’s Way charity and youth programs for Interlake kids, visit haileysway.com or Facebook.
