The temps might be frigid, but that’s no reason to be gloomy! Put your best wool socks on nan gave ya, haul on those rubbers and get out on the pond for a laugh ‘cause it’s
fishing derby time!
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Melanie Sullivan grew up in Pouch Cove, and part of that rural raisin’ meant getting on the ice at Marine Park for their annual fishing derby put off by the volunteer fire department. These days, Sullivan herself is a volunteer firefighter for the town of Pouch Cove and she gets to help put off the annual event.
The Great Outdoors
“I’ve been with the fire department for five years now and this has been something we do to give back to the community as an organization. We provide refreshments and hot dogs and we get prizes and we just help out to make sure everyone has a great time.”
As she knows first hand, getting together for some friendly competition in the great outdoors is a win for everyone.
“This is a way to get families together, to come into Marine Park and get on the pond for a few hours. They cut their holes and ice fish for the day and have great family fun and we feed everyone and give prizes.”
Sullivan, who’s a cardiology technician at the Health Sciences Centre, has high praise for the folks at Marine Park’s Yogi Bear Jellystone Park in Pouch Cove where the event will take place. “Dave Snow (Marine Park’s owner/operator) helped out with prizes for the kids this year, he donated some great stuff for first, second and third prize,” she says.
Having the support from local businesses and business owners is key to any small community or town, she says, and the folks at Marine Park always go above and beyond. “They are very important to us as a department. Dave’s very generous. Anything that we do, like recycling drives or this derby, he’s there to help us. On random days, he comes down with pizzas for the fire department just to say thank you. With the park being here, we have a big responsibility to take care of that, so having access to do drills and practices is great and we are always welcomed. 
Whatever we need, the staff there are helpful and generous and we are thankful for that support.”
Snowfest Celebrations
The help continues year round. The derby, part of the town’s 2018 Snowfest Celebrations, takes place Saturday, Feb. 23 on Herring Cove Pond in the park between one and four in the afternoon.
Sullivan says she’s excited to once again volunteer. “I was born in Pouch Cove and I grew up ice fishing. I’ve grown up doing outside activities and even before I was in the fire department I was ice fishing and getting outdoors at Marine Park. With Dave’s help, we go in every year to do this ice fishing derby and together, we make sure it’s both fun, and safe, for everyone.”
FISHING DERBY details
Open to all ages! Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. All participants must register before starting. Registration will include sending your full name, age and contact number.
Send info to Melanie at [email protected] or at the rec center before heading onto the ice. If by any chance the ice is deemed unsafe or weather conditions are bad, the derby will be canceled or postponed. Updates will be posted on the Pouch Cove Fire Department’s or Town of Pouch Cove’s Facebook page.