BONNYVILLE – Bonnyville could be hosting a rodeo this summer, but fans wouldn’t be watching from the grandstands.
The Bonnyville Ag Society is looking to host a virtual rodeo on June 4 and 5.
Town of Bonnyville council discussed the possibility after receiving a letter from the ag society requesting a $20,000 donation to assist with the costs.
“I think that we can all agree that these have been tough times in our town, both economically and emotionally,” noted Katrina Reid, office manager for the Bonnyville Ag Society, in a letter to council. “Our goal by putting on this rodeo is to ease some of the financial burdens off our small businesses, even if only for a weekend, by bringing people into the area, and also emotionally to our residents by showing them that there may be a light at the end of this very long tunnel.”
Not being able to have fans enjoy the action in-person will make it even more expensive for the ag society to pull off a successful event, which is why Reid sent out letters to the town and MD of Bonnyville requesting assistance.
Town council tabled their discussion and decision on the matter and will be requesting the ag society make a presentation during one of their upcoming meetings to give them a better idea of what the virtual rodeo would entail.
Although local municipalities were asked for help, Reid stated they hadn’t received approval from Alberta Health Services (AHS) at the time of the town’s April 13 meeting. This was an issue for Coun. Elisa Brosseau.
“I’d like to see, at least, something come from AHS in regards to hosting the event before it even comes to us, and then we’re talking about the economic development benefit of the town. Really, how much is that if there are COVID-19 restrictions?”
Coun. Lorna Storoschuk agreed, “I know they need the prize money for the competitors, but the benefit to the town itself as far as spectators coming into town to watch, we wouldn’t have that.”
Mayor Gene Sobolewski wondered how people would be able to watch everything the rodeo had to offer if they weren’t permitted to enter the grounds.
“It will be broadcast virtually and people can watch it, like tv but it will probably be live-streamed over the net," explained CAO Bill Rogers.
A hope Sobolewski had if the event did get the green light from the province was to give residents the chance to watch and enjoy a meal.
“I know, myself, I hope that if we’re going to have that kind of a rodeo that I would be able to go down to at least a couple of local restaurants where I can watch the rodeo on the screens... somewhere they could pick up local food so that maybe there might be some benefit if that did occur. If that can’t occur, it’s an event that’s going to go on that will make some people happy, but it would be a $20,000 expenditure from the town, and it's something that we’re going to have to wrestle with.”
Coun. Ray Prevost saw the benefits of the rodeo as ‘limited’.
“You’re not going to have people filling up restaurants, buying groceries for their campers, buying alcohol, fuel, and so on,” he explained. “There’s not a whole lot, and if you televise it, you’re going to need sponsorships. Is that going to be local sponsorships? It’s going to be hard to put together during COVID-19, businesses altogether aren’t all that great so I’m not sure.”
