It was a successful weekend for the Estevan Humane Society, as the non-profit organization raised $10,000 in funds from their annual Duck Derby event on Sunday.

Another $10,000 went to the winner, Pam Franko, after her duck was the first to cross the finish line on the Souris River. 

Board of Directors President Tayja Lakusta said the funds were particularly timely given the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It's a huge help," Lakusta said. "The outside funding that we get from grants from larger locations or charities were kind of put on hold until 2022. So these funds are definitely helpful and definitely needed."

"We're just trying our best right now to get through this difficult time like I'm sure a lot of other people are. But we're hoping to come back stronger and better."

Lakusta added that the Humane Society is ineligible for a lot of the grants and funds from the government. 

"We've basically had a year-and-a-half to two years of minimal funding," she said.

The derby was sold out for the second straight year, with Lakusta estimating there were somewhere between 75-100 people at the event.

The Humane Society has a couple more events planned for this winter. It also plans to host the derby again next year.

If you're interested in volunteering with the organization, you can get in touch by calling 306-634-3444.