What is the Ducky 500?
It is a raffle with a twist. A Race run with rubber ducks at every Canada day celebration in downtown Courtenay, BC. Members of the Rotary Club of Comox sell 6,500 tickets and then put those raffle ticket numbers on the same number of yellow rubber ducks. The ducks are all put in the river at the same time and the numbers of the ducks that reach the finish line first are used to determine the raffle winners. The Ducky 500 ticket sales help benefit deserving charities and projects in and around the Comox Valley. So… are you a lucky duck? Or rather – you lose and the proceeds go back to the community, a win no matter what. A huge thank you to all of our Ducky 500 sponsors – without them we couldn’t run the race and support the community!
When and where does the race take place?
July 1st 2016 in Lewis Park along the Courtenay River with the finish line in front of cheering crowds at the 5th Street bridge.
How much money is involved?
Each ticket costs $10. After prizes and expenses, the Comox Rotary club uses all of the remaining money to fund local charitable projects.
Is any of the money used for the benefit of the Rotarians?
No. Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self”. Rotarians contribute their time without compensation, both for the Ducky 500 and to the charitable projects which receive funding.
Chances are 1 in 6500 to win a grand prize. BC Gaming Event Licence 83079 Problem Gambling Help Line 1-888-795-6111 Know your limit, play within it. 19+ www.bcresponsiblegambling.ca
Where can I buy tickets?
Tickets are available from any Comox Rotarian, from our sponsors and from helpful businesses throughout the Comox Valley. Tickets are also available along the parade route at Empire Days in Cumberland and Canada Day in Courtenay (if there’s any left!) and on selected weekends in front of local grocery stores and other retailers. Tickets sell out every year, so don’t wait and don’t be disappointed.
Where do all those rubber ducks come from?
We like to pretend that our ducks are highly trained racing ducks from around the world who spend the off-season training for the Ducky 500 as the ultimate race in the world of competitive rubber duck racing.
How do you collect all those ducks once you put them in the river?
Duck collecting should only be undertaken by trained professionals with a Quick Underhand Avian Capture / Kontainment (QUACK) designation. We string a rope across the river and attach boats to the rope. Rotarians sit in the boats armed with fish nets and scoop the ducks as they float by. Comox Valley Ground, Search and Rescue volunteers follow the ducks down the river as a swift water rescue exercise and ensure that no duck is left behind. Oh – Search and Rescue makes sure all the boaters are safe too.