The 2023 Doc Rob Bass Classic kicks off on Saturday, keeping mental health awareness in the forefront.
Terry-Lynn Stevens says the fishing event started in 2017, in honor of her husband and local doctor Rob Stevens who lost his battle with mental health and died by suicide that same year.
“It was started by some friends, Ray and Ross Prio, who came to me with a fundraising idea around fishing, because that’s something that Rob loved to do. They really wanted to honour Rob’s memory and his legacy,” she says.
Stevens says the fundraiser is in its 6th year. She says there is an average of 40 boats who participate every year in honour of Rob’s memory as well as to enjoy Georgian Bay while doing something Rob loved.
“All proceeds stay in our community in West Parry Sound and they go to support local initiatives, small or big. From feeding hungry tummies, helping children experience Christmas with presents under their tree, or helping local paramedics with their call maps. We helped fund the Drop and Sound Youth counselling, along with training community members on suicide awareness, all in memory of Rob,” she says.
Stevens says it is not only about raising money to help those programs within the community, but first and foremost it’s just to raise awareness. She says we have to keep the conversation going adding she finds it’s an issue that still unfortunately can be swept under the carpet.
Stevens says the fundraiser is still taking in registrations, with about 46 boats registered as of Wednesday (July 5). She says the nice thing about this year is they’ve added the component that you don’t necessarily need a boat to fish.
“So, if you love fishing and don’t have a boat, there’s nothing stopping you from registering a team or yourself for $50 and you can fish from the shores of Georgian Bay, as long as you keep your fish alive. We are a catch and release tournament and we have blast off at Big Sound Marina at 8:30, which is something to see in itself,” she says.
Stevens says I-spark solutions will also be in the air capturing the whole thing, which she says is one of her favourite parts of the tournament.
She says weigh in is at 3:30 pm and then awards and prizes are announced and handed out back at the Kinsman around 5 PM. When it comes to donations, Stevens says there’s an online auction that’s going to be running until Saturday at 6:00 PM.
“So they can go to the Doc Rob Bass Classic Facebook page and within that page there’s an online auction event. They can bid on items that they see fit, but they can also send an E-transfer donation or cash or check,” she says.
Stevens says E-transfer donations go to [email protected] where they will be welcomed and added to the fundraiser’s pool, which will be spread out amongst the community.