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Catch A Smile! - Friends in Sportfishing

Registered Name: FRIENDS IN SPORTFISHING

Business No: 894502996RR0001

We provide free boat trips (some include fishing) to groups of people with special needs in the Ottawa region.

Catch A Smile! - Friends in Sportfishing

about

Catch a Smile!-FISF. We are a volunteer-run charity offering free sightseeing and fishing trips on adapted pontoon boats along the Rideau river and canal to groups of people with special needs. We operate from the first week in June to the last week in August. Since 1996 we have welcomed thousands of groups of people with special needs from the Ottawa region: youth, many from disadvantaged families, seniors living in long-term care, people with mobility issues, and more recently, new immigrants and survivors of gender-based violence. Our free excursions on Dows Lake and the Rideau River in Manotick introduce our guests to the natural beauty of the area where they experience the therapeutic effects of nature in a setting they would not otherwise be able to access. Everyone "Catches a Smile" while checking out the marshes for turtles, herons and other wildlife or singing songs or playing "I spy" while on the water. Each of our 3 wheelchair-accessible pontoon boats, can accommodate up to 1200 people each summer.  Independent evaluation has shown that our guests are overwhelmingly thrilled with the time they spend on the water with us!

REGISTERED CHARITY ADDRESS

320 Parkdale Ave

Suite 801

Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4X9

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