The winner of the Meewasin Pelican Watch Contest 2017 has been crowned.
Grade 2 student Jackson Crowder guessed closest to the actual arrival time of the year’s first pelican to land at the weir.
“I felt really happy and proud,” he said before receiving the grand prize of a bike.
Crowder’s guess was that the first pelican would land on April 2 at 6 p.m. The actual arrival time was a mere 25 minutes later.
When asked why he chose April 2, Crowder smiled and said that day is his birthday.
The announcement Thursday morning marked the 22nd and, at least for now, final year for the contest. Meewasin Valley Authority says the contest will not be continuing.
“Right now Meewasin is going through some budget difficulties,” said Doug Porteous, manager of community development with the MVA. “And there are a number of events that we cannot do unless they are sponsored.”
The pelican contest is one of them.
Porteous said he is pushing for a long-term solution to funding the Meewasin, adding that he hopes the City of Saskatoon and private industries will step up to help.
Porteous is holding out hope that the contest will make a comeback.
“I think it’s going to continue on,” he said. “It’s a great contest and I think what has happened is it’s one aspect of many that requires event sponsorship.”
MVA announced several cuts to its programming after the provincial budget on March 22.
