From construction to conservation

At his home in Wellington in Prince County, on the western side of Prince Edward Island, Reg Maddix sits at his kitchen table and watches the birds in his yard. “I love the outdoors,” he says. While outwardly, it’s a quiet moment for the long-time Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) volunteer, he’s going through a mental checklist of all the things that need to be done for his chapter’s annual fundraising dinner and auction. It’s fast approaching, and he likes to have all his ducks in a row (like the wooden duck carvings that line the top of the cupboards behind him).

With a background in construction, Maddix spent about 23 years working with his father to build various structures in the area, like fish ladders and dams, for Ducks Unlimited Canada, getting better acquainted with the organization’s employees and their work along the way. He started attending the Prince County chapter’s event (having attended about 35 to date) and it wasn’t long before he joined the committee himself.

“I could see that they needed funds to build all these structures…I could see the benefits coming from all the money that was raised for Ducks Unlimited Canada, so I said, ‘Why don’t I help out?’” says Maddix.

This year marks his 20th anniversary as a member of the Prince County volunteer committee. He’s pitched in over the years in various ways, from storing auction merchandise at his home and using his kitchen as a committee meeting space, to regularly checking on Ducks Unlimited Canada properties in the area to ensure they’re in shipshape.

But of all the things Maddix has been involved with, he’s most proud of the role he’s played in helping revive the Prince County event post-COVID. It’s why we’re pleased to name both Maddix, along with fellow Prince County Ducks Unlimited Canada volunteer Eric Shaw, as Ducks Unlimited Canada’s Prince Edward Island Volunteers of the Year.

Over the past few years, Maddix says, his local chapter lost a few committee members (with some retiring and some not returning post-pandemic) and at one point, were down to just five members. Last year, both he and Shaw wanted to bring back the Prince County event, so they located a new venue, got to work selling and delivering tickets all over the area, and spent days making sure everything was lined up perfectly.

“We worked really hard to get it back here…our quota was to get 150 seats filled…I said to Eric, ‘I’m going to put my heart and soul in here. We’re going to have a successful dinner, that’s for sure,’” says Maddix, noting that one attendee gave the committee a $500 donation.

The event was indeed a smashing success, with Maddix and Shaw’s nominator stating, “Not only did they bring it back, but they sold more tickets than I have seen in the 17 years I have worked with them, hosting the best event Prince County has had during my time with Ducks Unlimited Canada!”

“These two individuals support the other events on the Island and are always willing to help in any way they can.”

For Maddix, it’s all in a day’s work. And even though he’s retired, he hasn’t slowed down. In addition to spending time with his wife Marie, his children Jason and Tania, and his grandchildren Mireille and Edmond, he carves out time for other pursuits. At the time of this interview, he was busy preparing for this year’s fundraising dinner and auction by selling tickets and securing merchandise and gift certificates (“I’ll put my 100 per cent in this year again, because I really want this dinner to be successful,” he says), and getting ready to volunteer with the Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in Summerside.