Rubber ducks, community competitors and plenty of family fun came together at John Peake Memorial Park on Saturday as Synergy presented its annual Amazing Duck Race.
The August 22 fundraiser transformed the traditional rubber-duck race into a land-and-water adventure inspired by The Amazing Race. Five teams of two were challenged to make their way through an obstacle course featuring yard games, sports and swimming while collecting numbered rubber ducks along the way.
Rather than releasing hundreds of ducks into Chestermere Lake and waiting for currents to determine the winners, the redesigned format put community racers at the centre of the action. The ducks collected by the winning team were used to determine the five sponsored-duck prize winners.
It was a playful approach to a serious purpose.
Proceeds from the annual fundraiser support Synergy’s youth and community-development programs in Chestermere, Langdon and southeast Rocky View. Many of those programs are offered at no cost, creating places where young people can make friends, build confidence, develop leadership skills and discover new interests.
Residents were able to sponsor a numbered duck for $10 in the weeks leading up to the race. A maximum of 500 ducks was available under the fundraiser’s Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis licence, giving Synergy the potential to raise as much as $5,000 through duck sponsorships before expenses.
The event was about more than the race itself. A youth vendor market gave young entrepreneurs and creators an opportunity to display and sell handmade products and other goods. Food trucks, a petting zoo, yard games and community-resource displays helped turn the fundraiser into a broader afternoon gathering for local families.
That combination reflects much of Synergy’s regular work. The organization does not simply offer activities for young people; it encourages them to participate, take responsibility and discover what they can contribute to their community.
The vendor market provided a small but practical example. Young participants had to prepare their products, arrange their displays, speak with customers and experience both the excitement and uncertainty of running a small business.
The race itself emphasized teamwork and problem-solving, with local community members taking on the course together. Previous editions have included teams representing Chestermere City Council, the RCMP and Chestermere Fire Services, adding some friendly rivalry to the fundraising effort.
Synergy’s Duck Race has been bringing Chestermere residents together in different forms since 2014. What began as a familiar rubber-duck fundraiser has gradually developed into one of the organization’s signature annual events.
Its staying power may come from its simplicity. Sponsoring a duck gives residents a chance to win a prize, but it also provides a direct and affordable way to support programs serving local children, teenagers and families.
Synergy operates a range of programs intended to give young people safe and welcoming places to connect. Its offerings have included leadership development, boys’ and girls’ groups, teen programming, summer drop-ins, homework support, video-game nights and opportunities for youth involvement and employment.
Those programs can be particularly important in fast-growing communities. New neighbourhoods bring new families, but a growing population does not automatically create a sense of belonging. Community organizations help fill that gap by giving residents opportunities to meet one another and become involved.
The annual Duck Race brings that work into public view. Families can enjoy an afternoon in the park, young vendors can test their ideas, community organizations can share information, and Synergy can raise money for programs continuing throughout the year.
At press time, Synergy had not yet released the names of the five sponsored-duck prize winners, the winning race team, final ticket sales or the amount raised. Those details will be reported by the Chestermere Anchor when they become available.
More information about Synergy and its community programs is available at yoursynergy.ca.