Lions and Walleye may not be the most natural pairing in nature, but in Rainy River, the two are inseparable.
The West Rainy River Lions Club has long played a role in the Rainy River Walleye Tournament – most notably with its pontoon boat raffle and the annual pig roast.
According to WRRD Lions Club president Richard Trenchard, the Lions took on the task of a community meal at the tournament when the Legion was searching for a new organizer. It had been a steak fry back in those days.
“It was good. Really unique and a great idea,” he said. But the logistics of getting everyone’s steak cooked just right didn’t appeal to the cooks in the Lions club.
“We tossed around a few ideas, and landed on a big pig roast. We’ve been going it ever since,” he said.
To execute the roast, the Lions bring in local caterer Kelvin Caul, who oversees the team, and makes sure there’s plenty of food for the hungry crowd.
“He does an amazing job of our pig roast each year,” said Trenchard “And we have a bigger tournament this year, so we’re getting a bigger pig.”
Caul is joined by the seasoned cooks of the Lions Club, who run many large scale barbecues and events across the district.
“They always do an awesome job,” Trenchard said.
The other highlight of the RRWT is the annual pontoon raffle. Through the spring and summer, tickets are sold on the pontoon throughout the district, in one of the club’s largest fundraisers.
The raffle began about 10 years ago. The Rainy River Chamber of Commerce had held a boat raffle at the inaugural RRWT, 25 years ago, and it was a popular feature.
Trenchard, who was part of an Emo Lions club at the time, approached them about bringing back the draw. It went for a few years, but the club decided they preferred not to raise funds through raffles.
To balance the wishes of the Lions Club, and to keep the popular boat raffle at the tournament, Trenchard suggested that a branch club be created in Rainy River. The idea was well received, and a few years later, the Rainy River branch club was big enough to form its own stand-alone club, and made an amicable split.
“The pontoon raffle is an important part of what our club does, and we do it every year because it’s great to be out at the tournament,” he said.
Along with the Hunter’s Dinner – the WRRD Lions’ other signature event – the Pontoon raffle provides much of the funds used by the Lions to support the community.
Charitable organizations have long benefited from the work of the Lions, which supports the 4-H program, the Rainy River Health Centre, Thunder Bay Regional Hospital, kids curling in Rainy River and Stratton, minor hockey, and many other groups.
“We only have one rule, and that’s if anyone wants us to donate to them, that they write us a letter and ask. We get lots of letters, and we try to help everyone,” said Trenchard. “We try to make sure that anyone in the district who needs money, if we can help them, then we help them.”
The Pontoon, which is provided by Nestor Falls Sports and Marine, will be on display at the tournament, with the draw taking place at the Stratton Rec Centre on September 21 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased at the RRWT or online by e-transfer at wrrdlionstickets@gmail.com.
