On Monday and Tuesday, we were busily getting our mailout organized for the 2010 season.  Just under 1,500 pieces were prepared and brought out to the post office on Tuesday afternoon.  Hopefully everyone will get their packages by today or early next week!  We are very excited about what we have produced for the new mailout.

Included in this year’s mailout are three things.  Firstly, we have our very popular calendar.  Julie works hard to select the right pictures and compile the whole calendar, and Janelle was able to help her with some expert finishing work on the selected photos.   We also have our new printed newsletter with some juicy tidbits of info for the upcoming season written in tandem by Pit and Pat (thanks to Paul for his editing skills!)  We also list all our sportshows in the newsletter (we are doing 9 shows plus two local shorelunches in Manitoba this year).

Lastly, a very exciting DVD will be part of the mailout.  This is a copy of the new Call of the Tundra show that was filmed in August 2009 and aired on Global TV in Western Canada in October this year.  The DVD also includes a copy of the 2008 edition of the show, as well as a very excellent 4-minute promotional video for the lodge.  In the promo video, the contestants of the past few years share their candid experiences with the viewer.  Very scenic shots are cut into the video and it is all very professional.  Thanks to Global TV and to Toyota for making this happen for us!  If you would like to see a copy of the promo video online, see our homepage at www.aikenslake.com or our Youtube page @ http://www.youtube.com/user/aikenslakelodge

Have a very Merry Christmas and happy New Year!

With graphite hockey sticks instead of rods, 13 Aikens Lake veterans journeyed south to the quaint burg of St. Pierre, Manitoba and strapped on the skates for the first ever Aikens sponsored team event.  Sunday night’s main event, which followed up our annual Christmas party on Saturday, was a chance for staffers to reconnect and enjoy a friendly exhibition match vs. the local St. Pierre aces.

Headed by Player-Coach Pit “The-Boss” Turenne, our unpracticed roster took in a short warm-up before the puck dropped. Our Bait and Tackle man, Luke Gnutel, manned the pipes for our team, while the dirty traitor (wink) Marcel Bédard was the man behind the mask for the opposition. Presiding over the rulings on the ice was our talented Charlie Préfontaine.

First period: After a few laborious line changes, the Aikens team settled into a great pace chasing the home team’s early lead.  We managed to stay out of the penalty box and capitalized on some golden chances to bring the score closer. 5-2 for the bad guys at the end of the first.

Second period: Coach sat us down and gave us a serious talking to: “… I didn’t travel all this way just to see you guys give them the game!” He then proceeded to take things into his own hands and scored a pair of beauties back-to-back! This breathed some life into squad. We dropped the clutch and dug deep to bring the game within one goal. 8-7 bad guys at the end of two.

Third period: Then the dam burst. It is with much sorrow we regret to inform the readership that in the third period the wheels fell off the wagon. Firstly a game misconduct was handed out to one of our star players for a tripping call by the Santa-impersonating Zebra. Deflated, the Aikens team tried to muster a come-back but the levee had broken. Unanswered goals by the opposition put the game away, leaving only smiles and a round of handshakes at the end of the game. Final score 15-8 for St. Pierre.

Many thanks to all those who played and the few who cheered us on. Thanks to the St.-Pierre arena management for putting us up in the old barn. With so much fun by all in this trial run, don’t be surprised to see more Aikens Lake Hockey action in the not-so-distant future!

The dates for the Continuing Medical Education being offered at Aikens Lake have changed to August 30th to September 3rd, 2010. The bonus is that the instructor will be ON SITE!  This will no longer be a web-based program.

To recap the program, a 15-hour course called “Physician Resilience” is being offered at no charge to doctors looking to mix business with pleasure during a trip to Aikens Lake.  It will be part of our annual newsletter that we will mail out in the coming weeks.  We have begun booking single doctors or groups.  Please call us if you would like more information.

The Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters association is a strong voice for the outdoor industry.  Comprised of a record 160+ members this year, the association is stronger than ever and is the perfect lobby group for the industry.  Despite outside forces, the record number of members and attendees at the AGM are a testament to the great work of the association.  Aikens is certainly an avid supporter of the organization: Pit is the current president and has been since December of 2008, while Gerry is a past president of the association.  Pit, Pat, and Julie attended this year’s event.

The Annual General Meetings took place at the CanadInns hotel in Winnipeg, MB from December 5-7. Members from all over the province, and many that live in other parts of the world, congregated for the three day event.  The highlight, as always, was the banquet.  This year, we were honored to host the new Minister of Conservation, the Honorable Bill Blaikie as the guest speaker at the banquet.  A silent and live auction raised over $18,000 for the association as a record crowd was on hand to bid on the various items.  The banquet was attended by 8 members of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly, and thus the voice of the MLOA grew larger and larger.  In all, a very successful evening for the association.

The two days of meetings ranged a variety of topics, from social media advertising and website designs to meetings with government officials on topical issues of conservation and Crown lands.  The topics were both informative and timely for our industry.  We were also honored to have the Minister of Culture and Tourism (and responsible for Travel Manitoba), Mrs. Flor Marcelino speak at our luncheon on Monday.  We also had the Minister of Water Stewardship (and responsible for the Fisheries Enhancement Fund), Mrs. Christine Melnick speak to us on Tuesday.

One other exciting thing that happened right before our meetings was that the Safari Club International had a meeting about setting up a local chapter… thus the Manitoba Chapter of SCI was formed!   This organization is an international powerhouse in terms of conservation and wildlife projects.  We look forward to joining forces with them to brighten the future of Manitoba wildlife!

Using the AGM as a point of reference for our industry, it would appear that we are headed in a very positive direction.  Although the economy hampered some outfitters and lodges, it appears that most weathered the storm well and we have established a very solid foundation on which to build on for the future.  Manitoba is quite a diverse wonderland of outdoor activities, and we at Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge are proud to be a part of both the MLOA and part of the province of Manitoba!

In 2009, Travel Manitoba setup a very promising partnership with the University of Manitoba’s Continuing Medical Education (CME) program.  The idea was to offer doctors a chance to combine a relaxing fly-in fishing adventure at many of Manitoba’s premium lodges while at the same time being able to advance themselves by completing some of their constant CME requirements during their stay.  In conjunction with the U of M, the course would be done via webcast and is a fully accredited 15-hour course and is recognized by the ACCME and AMA in the US, and by CACMS in Canada. 

For 2010, the course is entitled “Physician Resilience” and will be offered from July 12-16, 2010.  Learners enrolled in this course will review the concepts and tools that will better allow them to manage themselves, others and their environments – promoting a healthy balance between work and personal life. 

The best part is that the course fee is covered at no charge by Travel Manitoba as long as you book at one of Manitoba’s premium lodges, and why not choose Aikens Lake!!!   Doctors will arrive on Sunday July 11^th, and courses will be administered for 3 hours a day every afternoon.   You will get to fish with your guide in the morning, enjoy a succulent shorelunch, then come in to take the course.  You will go out again with your guide again in the evenings after dinner.  It will be a great 5 day, 6 night event.

Each year the CTC (Canadian Tourism Commission) and the  TIAC (Tourism Industry Association of Canada) puts on a huge event showcasing Canada’s tourism wares and services to international markets.  These international buyers come to Canada to learn about and book different destinations for their travelers. Hosted by Travel Manitoba in Winnipeg, May 2010’s edition of Rendez-Vous will feature hundreds of Canadian products and destinations to tourism operators during the four day event.

Unlike traditional tradeshows where buyers circulate freely shopping around and sellers trying to attract them, Rendez-Vous puts the focus on the sellers and ”matches” them with prospecting buyers. These folks represent a large body of world-savvy travelers, most of which see Canada as the epitome of true outdoor adventures. Not surprising that Aikens joins up with RVC to show off its untamed beauty.

Following the four day marketplace meetings, select operators are invited to go on several post-conference trips. Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge is proud to have been chosen as one of these signature experiences. Guests will arrive the day after the show (May 13) and stay with us for two days. We will offer them a truly unique experience, by offering to them a chance to not only angle for big fish, but to re-trace the footsteps of the area’s pioneers: The Voyageurs. Through authentic interpretation, these lucky people will learn about life in a canoe and how the fur trade laid the cornerstones in colonizing the West. We’ll teach them how to prepare and cook their own shorelunch. We’ll develop fun-filled and truly hands-on activities that will have them leaving Aikens with a head full of totally Canadian experiences.

We’re excited to be part of this showcase! We’ll be sure to write about this big event in months to come. Now, let’s all pray for an early thaw!

To view Rendez-Vous’ website please go to : http://www.rendezvouscanada.travel/ 

Fall is always a busy time in the Aikens office. We have been hard at work wrapping up a successful 2009 season and are now setting our sights on setting up an even better 2010!

In the “Aikens Office”, we are currently beginning the process of contacting all of our clients from the last couple of years to extend to them our special ”Carry-over pricing”.  This popular promotion runs till the end of November 2009 and offers to you, our wonderful patrons, the opportunity to lock in your dream trip to Aikens next summer at last year’s rates. Carry-over pricing is also available to new groups who book before the November 30th deadline.  This incentive, especially when coupled with our Prepayment discount (trips prepaid in full by Feb. 28th, 2010), can amount to considerable savings for a return or first visit to Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge. If you’d like a proposal from us or would like to take advantage of this exciting offer, please contact Pit, Julie or Pat at fishing@aikenslake.com or call toll-free 1-800-565-2595. Have a great day!

It is with great pleasure that we’d like to extend our most heartfelt congratulations to Daniel & Natasha (Fontaine) Garand. On August 21st, 2009 these two Aikens veterans tied the knot in hometown Winnipeg amidst friends and family. Of course, many happy lodge-folk attended the celebrations. Notably, Christian Dupont (Kik) as D.G.’s best-man, André Fontaine groomsman and cousin to the bride and Patrick chipped in as the evening’s M.C.

The wedding was held in a magnificent and grandiose hall in Downtown Winnipeg. The Millennium Center is a converted bank dating back to the turn of century. It’s imported Italian marble construction and four-storey tall domed ceilings makes it a posh sight to behold.

The happy couple joins a rapidly growing list of married Aikens employees. Thank you so much for including us in your special day Dan & Natasha! All the best to you two on behalf of everyone at Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge.

Dave Mercer is always a character!  His quick wit and joke-telling are always at the heart of any Big Molly’s evening at Aikens Lake.  Here is a clip he put together of a blooper filmed during this August’s Call of the Tundra.  It stars our guide Dave, fishing with one of the Tundra contestants.  We don’t know if this clip makes it onto the main show which airs tomorrow at 7PM Central, but it’s worth watching here nonetheless.  Enjoy!

For the second year in a row “Toyota’s Call Of The Tundra” was hosted at Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge. This televised tournament was shot on August 21-23rd this year. Five lucky Prairie dealership Toyota patrons pitted their angling skills against one another in hopes of catching the keys to a brand-new 2009 Toyota Tundra Truck. (See newsletter item: http://aikenslake.com/newsletter/index.php/2009/08/25/2009-call-of-the-tundra ).

Broadcast by Global Communications, this year’s edition is set to air on Saturday October 17th at 7:00pm in all Western provinces. Those of you unable at tune in to said channel, not to worry, like last year we will be including a copy of the tournament in our yearly mailout (December). If we don’t have your mailing information and would like to receive our information bundle, please forward your coordinates to fishing@aikenslake.com or call 1-800-565-2595.

Who will be the lucky winner? Tune in and check it out!