With just three weeks to go before Lac La Biche’s annual winter ice racing weekend roars into life on the frozen surface of Lac La Biche lake, the long-running event has hit a speed bump.
Alberta Health Services officials are currently considering whether the Winter Festival of Speed can run this year during a pandemic. The annual winter event and is billed as a winter tourism draw to the region, bringing hundreds to the community.
At an organizational meeting on Thursday night, the event’s founder and long-time racer Ken Staples said that while planning has been rolling along for the February 27 weekend, it was recently forced into the pits by provincial health protocols.
“At this point in time, we do not have AHS approval to go ahead,” said Staples.
The event includes the western Canadian championships for car races, a stop on the Western Canadian snowmobile drag race circuit, and an annual fly-in event for aircraft. It’s a big event that turns the frozen surface of Lac La Biche lake into a one-stop weekend of speed and action.
Festival of Speed organizers had initially believed that because some ice races had taken place earlier in the winter season, provincial officials had given permission. That, however, may not have been the case.
Seeking exemption
So late this week, Staples and the small crew of volunteer organizers submitted a request to the Alberta government for an exemption from the province’s restrictive COVID measures — in particular those referencing the term “festival” as well as competitions and sporting events. The exemption request is part of the province’s online COVID-19 resources. Staples said the paperwork is a simple one-page request form that only had space for 1,000 characters to explain the reason for requesting an exemption. For a winter event with a 40-year history in the community, a legacy of raising more than $225,000 for local charities, and a physical footprint that spans more than six-square kilometres of the lake’s surface, it was a small space to write in.
As of Friday night, provincial officials had not responded to the request.
“We don’t have a no and we don’t have a yes — so — we are in a waiting mode until we get a response,” said Staples, admitting frustration — but also understanding the importance of the protocols. “At the end of the day, we have to remember that AHS is looking out for the welfare of the public.”
Staples and supporters of the annual races have already secured financial support and services from several area business for the weekend. Funding has also been secured from Lac La Biche County. Recent snowfalls have also provided more than enough material for banks around the tracks, and ice thickness is averaging more than 30 inches. Every aspect of planning so far has also included strict pandemic protocol, explained Staples, including viewing areas around each attraction made strictly for vehicle traffic only. Apart from the actual approval to hold the event, all other plans are in place.
“Again, it is frustrating,” he said.
Waiting
Until provincial officials respond to the exemption request, Staples and the event organizers are putting a hold on further planning. When asked how long the group needs to create the tracks, airstrip, parking areas, viewing tracks and display areas, he said about 10 full days.
“We are in a waiting mode until we get a response. I know it’s going to be very, very tight with times — but I don’t know if there’s a lot of point in going ahead with detailed planning and putting everyone to work if we don’t know if we are going to be able to do it or not,” said Staples.
Long-time event volunteer Clint Lawrie summed up the ticking clock.
“The go or no-go date is basically February 17 … the eighteenth if we are pushing it,” he told Lakeland This Week.
Updates on the status of the weekend will be made available when a response from provincial health officials is received. Check www.lakelandtoday.ca for updates.
