Conservation Dinner

About the Conservation Dinner

The Conservation Dinner is a dinner, auction and fundraiser that has raised more than $1.39 million for needed projects, in local communities, over 34 years.

The 35th Conservation Dinner community fundraiser and auction takes place on Thursday, April 3, 2025 at South Huron Recreation Centre at 94 Victoria Street East in Exeter. 

To donate, or to buy tickets, phone 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610.

The 2025 Conservation Dinner is the 35th event since 1990.

The Exeter Lions Club has been co-partner, with Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation and the watershed community, on the Dinner, since 1991. Net profits are split 50-50 between community conservation projects of the Conservation Foundation and community conservation projects of the Exeter Lions Club.

To buy tickets to the Conservation Dinner, or to donate, 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). Tickets are $100 each and patrons receive a charitable gift receipt, for income tax purposes, for a portion of that amount. 

People can buy their tickets from a Conservation Dinner Committee member or from the Ausable Bayfield Conservation office. People can pay for their tickets by cheque, cash or credit card. They can even pay by e-Transfer. (If you are buying your ticket by e-Transfer, be sure to use the dinner@abca.ca email address and include your mailing address and/or email address in the e-Transfer message box and specify if the payment is for a Conservation Dinner ticket or if the payment is a donation to the Dinner).

The auction and dinner supports projects such as a family-friendly fishing derby, accessible nature trails in Bayfield, Clinton, Parkhill, Lucan, Arkona, Exeter, and Varna; opportunities for students to experience outdoor nature education; a $1,000 student environmental grant for students in local communities; a summer job at Ausable Bayfield Conservation for a student beginning their post-secondary education in an environment-related field; turtle monitoring and events in Port Franks and Ailsa Craig; aquatic habitat studies in Old Ausable Channel, Grand Bend; nature day camps; Owl Prowl; and parks and conservation areas.

The annual event features live and silent auctions of art and distinctive items such as travel packages and sports and entertainment memorabilia. The Dinner has special raffles, general raffles, appetizers, fun and fellowship, and a wonderful meal.