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Bullhead derby returns to Port Alberni with new date, location

Lions Club partners with Maritime Discovery Centre
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A young girl catches a bullhead during a previous year’s derby. PHOTO COURTESY AV LIONS FACEBOOK

After being cancelled in 2017, the popular Alberni Valley Lions Club children’s bullhead derby will be returning to Port Alberni this year. It just won’t be part of the annual Salmon Fest.

The derby will look slightly different, as the Lions are partnering up with the Maritime Discovery Centre, which has hosted its own derby for the past few years.

“We wanted to keep the Lions bullhead derby going, so we sort of piggy-backed on with them,” said derby chair and AV Lion Art Halsall. “They were more than happy for us to join in. It’s a nice location there for it.”

The derby will take place on Saturday, Aug. 25 at the Maritime Discovery Centre at the Lighthouse Pier on Harbour Road.

The AV Lions made the decision to cancel the popular children’s event last year after Salmon Fest was moved from Clutesi Haven Marina to the newly-constructed Tyee Landing. The bullhead derby had been allocated to Fisherman’s Harbour, and a few test fisheries revealed there were no bullheads in the area.

“If we had 200 kids there with no bullheads, it would be a pretty glum afternoon,” said Halsall.

This won’t be a problem in 2018, Halsall added.

“[The Maritime Discovery Centre has] had their bullhead derby for a few years now,” he said. “They’ve never had a problem at all.”

The derby will run a little longer than past years, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Main prizes—including prizes for “biggest fish” and “weirdest fish”—will be handed out at 3 p.m. but there will also be prize draws throughout the day.

“If kids go fishing at 10, they don’t have to stay all day,” said Halsall.

Registration takes place anytime between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and final fish measuring will take place after 2 p.m. Registration is free at the Maritime Discovery Centre, where there will also be craft tables for kids and the AV Lions will be selling hot dogs, hamburgers and water.

The derby is open for children ages 12 and under. Life jackets will be required, and participants must be accompanied by an adult.

As for the future of the bullhead derby, Halsall said they would like to partner up with Salmon Fest again, but it depends if bullheads show up at the new allotted site or not.

“I would hope that some year we can get back and get involved with them,” he said. “We spent 40 years with them. The Sunday of Labour Day weekend was always bullhead morning. We really missed it last year.”

elena.rardon@albernivalleynews.com



Elena Rardon

About the Author: Elena Rardon

I have worked with the Alberni Valley News since 2016.
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