A Rice Lake charity tradition is returning this month, with the Bruce Nicolle Memorial Poker Run marking 36 consecutive years of raising money to help children with critical illnesses.
The event takes place Saturday, September 19, at Golden Beach Resort in Roseneath, with boats travelling roughly 109 miles through Rice Lake and the Otonabee River.
The run was founded in 1991 by Rice Lake resident Bruce Nicolle, who organized the event with the goal of helping grant wishes for children facing critical illnesses.
Nicolle died in February 2008 following a five-month illness. Performance Boat Club Events Inc. took over the event, ensuring it continued without interruption.
Since 2009, proceeds from the run have generated $348,860 for Children’s Wish Foundation and Make-A-Wish Canada. The two organizations eventually merged under the Make-A-Wish Canada name.
The 2026 route will include checkpoints in Bewdley, Elmhirst’s Resort, Hastings, Gores Landing and Willow Bend Marina, with boats leaving Golden Beach Resort in the morning and returning in the afternoon.
The public can watch the boats for free from several shoreline locations. Suggested viewing spots include the Bewdley town docks late in the morning, the Hastings waterfront around the midday lunch stop and Gores Landing during the early afternoon.
The day wraps up with a charity auction and awards dinner at Golden Beach Resort.
Registration is open to boats 18 feet and over, with proof of $2 million in liability coverage required.
Organizers say the event continues to honour Nicolle’s original vision of helping children and families.
“Bruce started this run because he wanted to do something for kids who were facing the worst thing a family can face,” said Jeff Devolin, president of Performance Boat Club Events Inc. “Thirty-six years later we’re still doing it, and we’ve never missed a year.”
The event is presented by Edwards Mazda and Double R Performance, with additional support from a number of other sponsors and local businesses.
