By Michael Riley, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

The North Hastings Community Fish Hatchery is raising money for a new well to continue its operations going into the future. They're looking to raise $30,000 to drill a new well for the hatchery to sustain their local fish populations, ensure reliable water source for fry (baby fish), support conservation efforts and fund the drilling, casing and pump installation for the new well. As of March 24, they've raised 50 per cent of their goal. To help with this initiative, forward any donations to events@fishhatchery.ca, and follow the progress and share at www.fishhatchery.ca. Donations can also be made to Zeffy at www.zeffy.com/.../donation.../well-wishing-campaign, or in person with cash or cheques at Mack Attack Outdoors at 62 Hastings St. North. They note that donations of $1,000 or more automatically make those donors lifetime members of the NHCFH. Peter Varley, a volunteer at NHCFH who is leading the fundraising campaign, and Paul Goggan, president of the Bancroft Fish and Game Club, who provided the campaign with its first $1,000 donation, comment to The Bancroft Times on this important endeavor.

The NHCFH posted about this fundraising initiative on their Facebook page on March 17, asking for the public's help in procuring a new well to maintain a clean, reliable water source for their continued operations.

“Water is the foundation of everything we do and without it, we cannot raise healthy fish or continue supporting the local fish populations and lake ecosystems that our community values.

Right now, our hatchery urgently needs a new well to ensure a dependable water supply for the future. The cost of drilling, casing, pumping, line installation and monitoring equipment could reach $30,000, and this critical investment is beyond what we can manage alone. In challenging economic times, we know every dollar matters - but so does protecting a natural community resource that benefits our lakes, our environment, and
future generations.

We're asking our community to dig deep and help us reach our goal. Your donation will directly support the installation of a new well and help keep the hatchery operating for years to come,” they said in their posting.

The NHCFH is a community, volunteer-based, not for profit organization with federal charitable status that raises local fish for local lakes. According to their website at www.fishhatchery.ca, their goal is to engage with the community in the management and stewardship of local fisheries, habitat and the surrounding environment to make sure these resources continue to be there for present and future generations. They work in cooperation with the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry and Elkins says they are funded by charity events and donations.

Varley told The Bancroft Times that they're hoping to reach their fundraising goal to procure the new well by the end of April. As of March 22, they'd already raised $8,700, which is almost 30 per cent of their target. According to a posting on their Facebook page on March 22, in addition to the Bancroft Fish and Game Club, the following organizations and individuals had already chipped in for the new well; Craig Levia, Gary and DeAnna Pirko, Margaret Thompson, Peter and Joanne Varley, Fontinalis Investments, Joan Grant, Natalie Herbert, Paul Switzer, Bentley Metal Works, and Sheila Griffin.

The hatchery got their first $1,000 donation recently from the aforementioned Bancroft Fish and Game Club, and Goggan made the following statement to The Bancroft Times regarding this donation on March 20;

“The membership of the Bancroft Fish and Game Club are very pleased to offer a $1,000.00 donation to the fish hatchery. The fish hatchery requires clean; cold water to run properly for the growth of the fish and therefore a new Well is needed. It's clearly an added expense that the fish hatchery could not be expected to pay for out of their annual budget. Therefore, our membership decided to help start the fish hatchery well fund raising off with a bang and we immediately notified [NHCFH] president Kevin Vance of our $1,000.00 donation. We are hoping our donation helps kick start a very successful well fundraising campaign. The fish hatchery is a very important part of our community, run by volunteers that require our financial help at this time. Just think about all the people that have had a successful fishing day because of the great work the fish hatchery does for our community.

So please donate as every dollar counts for this great resource can continue to operate and grow our fish populations,” he says.

Varley told The Bancroft Times on March 24 that he and his wife Joanne have been members/volunteers at the NHCFH since Oct. 2025, and that he had approached Vance late last fall about opportunities to take on a more active role in the organization.

“My consulting and project management background prior to retiring in 2019 seemed like a good fit to this particular fundraising role,” he says.

Varley said they have other equipment in the hatchery that needs to be replaced or repaired and they'll do more environmental enhancement and rehabilitation work like shoreline restoration and spawning bed refurbishment in conjunction with the Bancroft Area Stewardship Council and Watersheds Canada. He said they have five wells in operation to provide their daily fresh water requirements for the hatchery.

“Well no. 4 is approximately 17 years old and has been running out of water in the fall timeframe for the past couple of years, with limited supply the remainder of the year. Subject to board approval, the plan is to use Joe Legge & Son's Drilling to do the drilling, casing and pump installation for the new well,” he says.

In the early stages of the campaign, they've been very fortunate to receive a number of large donations, according to Varley.

“Both from local businesses like Bentley Metal Works for $1,500 and Switzer's Auction and Appraisal Service for $1,500, and a number of community minded individuals. As an example, we received an anonymous donation today for $3,000,” he says.

Varley told The Bancroft Times that so far, the response has been incredible.

“We launched a week ago, and we hit the 50 per cent mark of our target in seven days.

“The campaign has largely been done through social media, where we have received a significant number of likes and re-postings across other group sites and pages, like lake associations. In addition, we have received tremendous support from local businesses to promote the well campaign. Mack Attack Outdoors has put posters up in their store and are accepting cash or cheque donations on behalf of the hatchery. Foodland Bancroft will be promoting our campaign at their store during April 12 to 25 inclusive, encouraging shoppers at the till to top up their grocery bill in contribution to the well,” he says. “It truly has been a community-wide response.”