On February 14, 2026, Peguis Child & Family Services (PCFS) will host a youth fishing derby on the Fisher River in Peguis, Manitoba. The event is meant to give young people a chance to enjoy the outdoors while learning how to fish and harvest food from the land.
The derby is open to children and teenagers from ages 5 to 17, including those living in the community or in nearby areas like Selkirk and Winnipeg. Children under 12 years old must be accompanied by a parent or another adult during the day.
Organizers say transportation via community shuttles will be available from the agency’s outreach offices in Selkirk and Winnipeg. To keep everyone safe, local fire and safety officials will verify ice thickness, and heated tents will be available for people to warm up.
Families must register their children by February 6, 2026, through the Peguis Child & Family Services website (peguiscfs.ca) or in person at the PCFS on‑reserve office. The agency will provide fishing rods, lures, and bait for any youth who does not have their own gear, and prizes will be awarded for categories like the biggest fish and the first catch of the day.
This outreach follows Peguis First Nation’s 2023 exercise of jurisdiction over child and family services under its own law (the Honouring our Children, Families and Nation Act), a milestone documented by Indigenous Services Canada. The agency is focusing on community activities like the derby as part of its Family Enhancement preventative model, and after local news coverage examining the progress of the community-led system, including reporting by CBC News on discussions about the transition and its implementation.
