Building community connections around conservation

Out in Memramcook, N.B., Nicole LeBlanc is immersed in the beauty of the region’s picturesque forests and waterways. The village is nestled in a valley on the banks of Memramcook River, which is fed by a sprawling network of creeks and small lakes and flows out into the Bay of Fundy. Here, spending time in nature is just a part of everyday life.

“My husband is an outdoor kind of guy, so I follow him on adventures,” LeBlanc says. “We go out on the ATVs and we have a camp in the woods. We’re always doing outdoor walks, we’re hunting moose and deer and we’re fishing. We also have a maple sugar shack and we tap the trees in the spring.”

Finding her way to Ducks Unlimited Canada

Enjoying the outdoors and being a part of the local hunting and fishing community inevitably led LeBlanc to Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

“My husband and I had been to a couple of DUC suppers in Moncton and Sackville and we’d go to their auctions,” LeBlanc says. “One of my friends suggested that we start up our own supper here and since I’m a local realtor, I thought it would be the perfect way to get out into the community so people could get to know me.”

She and another local, Serge Dupuis — who was also named DUC’s New Brunswick Volunteer of the Year this year — hosted their first supper in Memramcook in 2013.

“As the years have gone on, the supper has grown bigger and bigger,” LeBlanc says. “We’ve got 150 tickets to sell and we’ve sold out every single year.”

High-flying support

The Memramcook supper has become a hotly anticipated social event. Not only do tickets sell out, they sell fast, often within a day. During the supper, attendees get to dine on a delicious turkey dinner made from scratch at the venue’s on-site kitchen, mingle with friends and neighbours and take home auction items and raffle prizes donated by businesses in the area.

“It’s always a full house and everybody enjoys it. It’s their night out,” LeBlanc says.

The event has raised more funds with each passing year. In 2025, LeBlanc, Dupuis and the Memramcook team raised $30,000, which DUC matched.

“Everyone works together to get the numbers up. We raise money for DUC and wetlands conservation, and we also raise money for the supper so we can keep going,” says LeBlanc.

She credits the generosity of her community for the success of the supper year after year. “I go to a lot of local people I know to gather up prizes and donations for the event,” she says.

“During the dinner itself, we have volunteers working in the kitchen making the meal and our auctioneer, Carmen Reeves, plays a big role as well. We also really appreciate Jamie and Amy Young from DUC, who send us everything we need for the evening and MC the event.”

Flocking together for a common cause

LeBlanc’s talent for creating connections and sparking a sense of camaraderie within her community has inspired that generous spirit. She and Dupuis built an event that’s much more than a fundraiser. It’s a meaningful experience that brings everyone together and gives them an excuse to have a good time for a great cause.

LeBlanc loves meeting new people and learning more about conservation through DUC. Seeing how much fun people have at the suppers she’s organized over the years has been fulfilling. Hosting the annual supper has also shown her what’s possible when people come together.