Who would have thunk it 10 years ago?

Who would have thunk it?
While the Rainy River Walleye Tournament committee has proven that they have the formula for success year after year, there was a time when no one believed a fishing tournament could be such a big deal for our community.
I remember sitting around a meeting table with chamber of commerce members about nineteen years ago or so and hearing then owner of the Joli-G Café and avid angler Gerry Jolicouer suggest that the chamber start a fishing tournament here.
Some, including myself, thought it was a great idea, but others scoffed at it saying it would never work.
Well the first year they held it, in 1999, the skeptics around the chamber table were now part of the team putting it on, but the community was cynical about it with many people reluctant to sign up for the tourney.
But once the weigh-ins on day 1 of that first tournament were over, word spread fast that this was in fact a big deal and a first class event. Day 2 saw the tent packed and at the end of those weigh-ins people were lined up at the stage to sign up for a chance to be crowned RRWT champs!
Here we are a decade later and the popularity is still immense. There are now 90 teams (more than double the first year) and a waiting list to get into it.
The publicity it generates for our town and the economic impact are just incredible.
It goes to show that as a community we have tremendous potential... it just needs a dream, faith and drive!
–Until then,
Ken