Manitoba charity organizers 'reeling' after $20K in ice fishing prizes stolen from Lac du Bonnet, tell me about this news in (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/ice-fishing-theft-lac-du-bonnet-9.7347218)
17-09-2026
Organizers of the annual Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby in Manitoba were left devastated after thieves stole more than $20,000 worth of prizes and angling equipment from a storage trailer.
Key details from the report include:
The Break-in: The theft was discovered in mid-September 2026. Suspects cut through a chain-link perimeter fence at the municipal public works yard in Lac du Bonnet and broke into a padlocked trailer where the tournament gear and prizes were kept.
Discovery: Members of a nearby church alerted the RCMP after finding fishing equipment scattered across the grass and hidden under nearby trees.
Items Stolen: The stolen goods included high-value equipment such as ice augers, two ice fishing shelters, fishing rods, reels, tackle, apparel, and knives. While the trailer itself was insured, organizers were uncertain whether insurance would cover the stolen contents.
Impact on Charity: The derby is a non-profit event that donates all proceeds back into the Lac du Bonnet communityfunding bursaries, grants, and volunteer support (totaling over $28,000 the previous year). Prizes are typically amassed over time through donations or bought during sales to keep overhead low, making the loss particularly difficult to recover from.
Event Status: Despite the significant setback, organizers noted that the 19th annual derby is still planned to proceed on February 27, 2027, and have urged anyone with information about the incident to contact the RCMP.