When Lytton resident Bernie Fandrich decided to build a pond in the front yard of his acreage near town, he had no idea that the decision would result in a photo of his would become part of a hockey exhibit which toured the country.

Fandrich, who has always loved water features, decided to build the 60-foot-by-80-foot pond in 2009.

B次元官网网址淚 have water rights on a small creek,B次元官网网址� he explains, B次元官网网址渟o I diverted some of that to create the pond.B次元官网网址�

He got a permit so that he could stock the pond with rainbow trout and allow people to fly-fish (catch and release only).

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 fun to watch the kids fish for them,B次元官网网址� he says, adding in the early days there was competition for the fish from osprey.

He has some spawners now, which spawn in a gravel bed that Fandrich put in.

B次元官网网址淚 spend a lot of time watching them. ItB次元官网网址檚 lots of fun to watch them cruise around. The dragonfly nymphs go to the bullrushes before emerging as dragonflies, and the fish seem to know that. TheyB次元官网网址檒l swim over and bump the bullrushes to dislodge the nymphs.B次元官网网址�

In summer the eight-foot-deep pond is also a good place to cool off. When the pond, which has been dubbed Lake Bernard, freezes, friends and family play pond hockey on it.

B次元官网网址淭he kids bring skates, and weB次元官网网址檒l have 10 to 15 people playing.B次元官网网址�

Every year there is a large New YearB次元官网网址檚 celebration, which includes hockey on the pond; and it was at the 2010 celebration that Fandrich snapped the shot that caught the attention of the Canadian Museum of History.

B次元官网网址淚 developed, and used to run, the Lytton Chamber of Commerce website,B次元官网网址� explains Fandrich, who is currently president of the chamber. B次元官网网址淚 used a lot of my own photographs on the site, because I had access to them.B次元官网网址�

One of them was of the pond hockey game; and almost two years ago, when photographs were being considered for the museumB次元官网网址檚 booklet, the picture caught the eye of someone involved in the search.

Fandrich got an email explaining the nature of the request. B次元官网网址淭hey said they were interested in using it, and wanted some more information. There were lots of emails.B次元官网网址�

He was originally told they were interested in using the picture in the display itself, but B次元官网网址渢hen they backtracked on that. I was interested in sharing the picture, but up until the last minute they still didnB次元官网网址檛 know if it would make the display or the booklet.B次元官网网址�

As far as Fandrich knows, his picture is the only one in the booklet not taken by a professional photographer. To order a copy, go to

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