Lake Winnipeg provides a great bounty. It contains 60 species of fish, with pickerel and goldeye being the crowd favourites. But one thing it doesn’t offer is lobster. So if you need your fix of that most delectible of arthropods, Gimli Rotary Club’s Lobsterfest is just the ticket
No one in the club seems to know how long Lobsterfest has been a presence in Gimli, but estimates put it at 30-plus years — with some Gimli area residents claiming to have attended every one.
The Lobsterfest formula is tried and true: fresh lobster flown in from Nova Scotia, clarified butter, loaded baked potatoes, coleslaw, fresh buns, steaks for those who crave a surf and turf. But this year, the club has introduced a few changes — including a $10 price reduction to $60
“We are trying to make this affordable for everyone,” said Diane Fjeld, who has taken up the reins from Dave LeBlanc, who ran the fest for the last several years.
“Keep in mind this is a major fundraiser for us,” said LeBlanc. We need to make money. If you have a steak or lobster meal in a hotel or restaurant, they need to make a profit, too, but that money goes to the hotel or restaurant. Our profit from Lobsterfest goes back into our community. Plus… there’s no tipping, no taxes. It works out to be an affordable night out.”
Why is Gimli’s lobster king (Dave LeBlanc) relinquishing his throne? “Service clubs do so much. At some stage, people who have been doing it 30 years are looking to back off and let someone else take over. If you are in the club, be prepared to do the work,” said LeBlanc.
Another change is in the ways you can buy tickets. This year, tickets can be paid for by eTransfer (gimlirotary@hotmail.com) and Tergesens and Johnsons Fashion and Footwear stepped up to sell tickets at their checkouts.
The club also purchased its own steamers this year — which it will happily lend out to other groups for corn roasts, etc., and it plans to tweak its serving procedures to get you your lobster faster.
But one of the biggest changes is a renewed co-operation between service clubs in Gimli. This year, Rotarians volunteered to help the Kiwanis Club put on its 50th Anniversary celebrations at Gimli Pavilion June 1, and in return, Kiwanis volunteers will help run the bar and kitchen and set up the tables at Lobsterfest.
“I am really grateful for the Kiwanis support this year. Last year it was clear we needed more volunteers. We are in a better position this year, thanks to the Kiwanis. They are an amazing group and deserve a lot of credit,” said Fjeld.
One thing that hasn’t changed about Lobsterfest is the tremendous support from local businesses. Many of them buy whole tables for their friends and also donate substantial prizes for the fest’s rainbow and silent auctions. In addition, Co-op Foods stores the lobsters after they are picked up at the airport Friday, Sobeys bakes the potatoes, Gimli Hotel provides ice, Rona donates a big barbecue for the steaks — and Lakeview Resort provides the club’s meeting rooms for free all year long.
In the past, much of the money raised by Lobsterfest went to support local youth groups. But last year, the club took on Operation Red Nose, which offers safe rides home during the holiday season. Money raised from that venture is now earmarked for youth, freeing up Lobsterfest revenue for other community projects.
“I’d like to see the money go to specific projects, such as a walking track, for instance, said Fjeld, who becomes Gimli Rotary president on July 1. “In the past, we raised money and then simply responded to need each year. I’d like to work with other service clubs on these larger projects.”
And speaking of large, you can meet a monster lobster up close, with local politicians selling arm-lengths of draw tickets for your chance to take it home.
Lobsterfest runs Saturday, July 6, with cocktails at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. at the Gimli Recreation Centre. Call Dave at 204-290-8238 for tickets or more information
