Far Out Friday: Insurance concerns put rubber ducks in dry-dock

This beloved event has run a-fowl of insurance concerns raised by a Canadian canal owner

Risk Management News

By

Ernie from Sesame Street is certainly no fan of liability coverage.

A charity rubber duck race that takes place in Lewiston, Maine, every year has been cancelled due to liability concerns raised by a Canadian canal owner, according to the Sun-Journal.

The race is part of the Great Falls Balloon Festival, and has been a celebrated event for more than two decades. As part of the event, thousands of toy ducks are dropped into the canal and travel downstream until the first 25 are captured by volunteers in canoes.

The others are collected by net.

The winner is awarded $1,000, and runner-ups receive small prizes such as $50 gift certificates. Any money raised by the competition is donated to such local charities as the Boys and Girls Club.

While the race is enjoyable to watch, especially since it consists of “slow-moving little ducks,” Gatineau, Que.-based Brookfield Renewable Power deemed the event too risky to continue.

“Times change, and there is liability to think about,” Bart Kelsea, spokesman for the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club told the Sun-Journal. “Without an insurance policy and other things, it can’t happen this year.”

While the Club was initially dismayed by Brookfield Renewable Power’s concerns, it credits the facility with providing a last-minute donation to compensate for the cancellation and insists “there are no hard feelings.”

The Rotary will have a simple drawing to determine this year’s winners.

Keep up with the latest news and events

Join our mailing list, it’s free!