In Goderich, Ontario, registration is now open for the 36th Online Conservation Auction, hosted by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation and the Exeter Lions Club. The auction runs April 9–16, 2026, and funds raised will support local projects such as nature trails, student environmental bursaries and habitat restoration in the Gullies watershed along Lake Huron’s shore.
Donors can register art, sports memorabilia, services and other items online and drop them off at the ABCA office at 71108 Morrison Line east of Exeter. Bidding opens April 9 and closes at 8:00 p.m. ET on April 16, with a 50-50 raffle draw at 4:00 p.m. ET that day. All auction details are available on the ABCA events page.
Last year’s virtual event raised more than $30,000, split evenly between ABCF and the Exeter Lions Club. Proceeds have paid for new signage along South Huron trails, student outdoor nature education programs, shoreline tree-planting grants for Goderich landowners and aquatic habitat enhancement projects.
“This is an event that has benefitted our local communities for more than 35 years,” said George Irvin, co-chair of the auction committee. An official statement from the committee added that the virtual format keeps costs low and reaches bidders region-wide, while discussion continues about possibly returning to an in-person dinner format in future years.
What began as the Conservation Dinner in 1990 has grown into a long-running fundraiser that has generated more than $1.39 million for local watersheds. The online auction format, adopted in 2020, remains popular for its convenience and efficiency, ensuring continued support for Goderich-area environmental initiatives through private land stewardship grants and technical advice.
