On Wednesday, September 8th, 2021, HMOTF executives, volunteers, and participants took a trip out to the Franklin Club in Mt. Albert, ON. The Franklin Club is a private fishing/outdoors club with several, well-maintained trout ponds/lakes. This trip was organized in collaboration with the Newmarket and Mt. Albert Legions. Several members of these legion branches attended and had the opportunity to receive excellent instruction and hospitality from Franklin Club Pro Staff. Thank you to everyone at the Franklin Club, Newmarket and Mt. Albert Legions for arranging for 12 veterans with disabilities to begin their fly fishing journies that day!
Numerous volunteers from both Legion branches and the Zone 2 Commander, Crystal Cook, also came in support to make this day a success. For this special occasion, they supplied the veterans and volunteers with delicious BBQ hot dogs and hamburgers. No one was left hungry.
The manager of the Franklin Club had volunteers line up to help teach basic fly casting to beginner fly fishers. With their skill and knowledge, they made the technique of fly casting an easy technique to master. We also had the chance to tour the fish hatchery, which is the only private hatchery in Ontario. All the fish that it produces are for stocking the three bodies of water on the Franklin Club property. After the visit, and the fly casting introduction, everyone hit the water, caught some fish, and had a good time!
