Conservation Dinner postponed to 2021

Charitable auction event postponed for first time in more than 30 years

The Conservation Dinner Committee has announced the 2020 charitable auction is postponed until Thursday, April 15, 2021. The committee made the decision on June 15 at a video conference meeting.

The Chair of the Dinner Committee is Dave Frayne.

“It is a tough decision to postpone this wonderful event but it is the right thing to do,” he said.

“More than 400 people attend the Dinner each year. It is not feasible to practise social physical distancing, at this time, with that many people. We plan to return in 2021 with another great Conservation Dinner and continue our support of needed projects in our local communities.”

The Conservation Dinner Committee will contact those who have already donated money or items in 2020 to the charitable auction. The committee hopes to carry forward 2020 donations of auction items to the rescheduled event in 2021. The Chair thanked all who have donated auction items already. The committee will also contact people who had already purchased their ticket for the Conservation Dinner.

“We look forward to 2021 and hope we can once again share fellowship together, in support of our community, at the Conservation Dinner,” said Chair Dave Frayne. “I thank all the volunteers who worked so hard to prepare for the event planned for this year. I also want to thank everyone who has donated and are donating to this important community fundraiser. We look forward to welcoming you back next year.”

Donations are still needed to support community projects. If you want to donate to the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation or Exeter Lions Club, you can contact them directly.

In the month of June, if you donate to Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation at givingchallenge.ca (or go directly to this web page:

You can mention the projects you want to support. You may make a donation to Conservation Dinner 2020 – to support projects of the Exeter Lions Club and the Conservation Foundation.

This is the first time in the event’s three-decade history that it has been postponed to the next year. The Conservation Dinner is a partnership of Exeter Lions Club, Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation, and other community partners. It has raised more than $1.2 million for projects in local communities over 30 years.