Conservation Auction
35th Conservation Auction goes online for 2025
Auction Committee plans to continue to support needed projects in the community by changing fundraiser from dinner to online auction for 2025
The 35th Conservation Auction is changing for the 2025 year. The community auction committee has decided to change the fundraising event from an in-person dinner to an online auction for this year.
The Conservation Auction Committee Chair for 2025 is Chris Keller of the Exeter Lions Club. He says the organizers will miss the fellowship of an in-person event this year but he said changing the format is the right thing to do at this time.
“The community projects that are possible thanks to this auction still need our support – we just need to raise that money in a different way,” he said.
“The business community has been really supportive this year with sponsorships and donations and we thank them for their support,” he said. During the current economic uncertainty, however, ticket sales for the in-person event have not kept pace with previous years. There were also fewer special raffle and live auction items donated this year. He said the committee didn’t want to proceed with an in-person event this year if it couldn’t meet the high standards set at previous Conservation Dinners.
The Auction Committee plans to reimagine the event in 2025 and conduct an online auction, likely in May. The Committee Chair encourages the public to watch for updates on dates and times, expected in the coming weeks.
“We appreciate all the people who have supported the Conservation Dinner over the years and we hope they will continue to support this community fundraiser in a different format this year,” he said.
This is not the first time the Auction Committee has held this community fundraiser online. During the pandemic, the auction was held virtually in 2021 and 2022 before returning as a live event in 2023 and 2024.
“We were very grateful to the community for its support of our online auctions in 2021 and 2022 and we hope people will enjoy bidding on some great auction items at the online auction we plan to hold in 2025,” said Chair Keller.
The 50-50 Raffle Draw is continuing and the Auction Committee Chair encourages people to buy tickets, which are only $10 and the winner can win up to $5,000 if all tickets are sold. (Tickets must be sold in Ontario).
Anyone who has purchased a Conservation Dinner ticket will be eligible for a full refund, if they so wish, upon return of the charitable gift receipt, for income tax purposes, that was provided at the time of ticket purchase. Alternatively, ticket purchasers may choose to donate all or part of their ticket purchase and receive a charitable gift receipt for the full amount of their donation.
If you have questions, or want to donate to the online auction fundraiser, phone 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610 or email info@abca.ca or visit the Ausable Bayfield Conservation office east of Exeter at 71108 Morrison Line (just south of Highway 83).
The Conservation Auction has raised more than $1.39 million, for projects in local communities, over its history dating back almost three and a half decades. The Exeter Lions Club has been co-partner, with Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation and the watershed community, on the Auction, since 1991. Net profits are split 50-50 between the Conservation Foundation and the Exeter Lions Club.
Even though the Auction is an online event this year, there is still a need to raise the funds for the programs supported by this charitable event. You can continue to support projects in your community.
Find out more at conservationdinner.com and the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation’s Conservation Auction web page.
The annual charitable event supports needed community projects including parks and trails and conservation areas, outdoor recreation events and experiences for youth and families, conservation education, job and education opportunities for youth, and other needed projects in local watershed communities.