BONNYVILLE – The Bonnyville Agriculture Society’s Rodeo and Chuckwagon Race slated for the June 2-5th weekend will see a $15,000 cash injection from the Town of Bonnyville.
Town council passed a motion to provide an elite sponsorship for the ag. society’s upcoming events, at the April 12 regular council meeting.
The sponsorship decision had been previously postponed after Coun. Neil Langridge raised questions over the significant jump in funding being requested for the event compared to previous years.
Previous funding requests from the Bonnyville ag. society for the rodeo typically fell around the $500 mark, indicated Langridge. Last year the sponsorship request was increased to $7,500.
This year the top sponsorship package is $15,000. Although the society did not explicitly request that amount from the Town.
Attending the meeting in person, Bonnyville ag. society representative Corey Dows told council members that over the years there has been a lot of support provided by local businesses for the event. However, this year organizers have noticed increased reluctance in sponsoring the rodeo, which he attributes to the recovering economy.
“The closure of the Bonnyville Bingo Association, a lot of clubs are missing money – a lot of businesses are trying to spread out their money,” Dows added.
All the while the costs associated to hosting rodeos and chuckwagon races have been increasing.
“With the Town, we'd like to see increased funding just due to the fact that we do see less funding from other communities, businesses,” he said.
“We know that there are groups in town that are hurting... We give opportunities for other groups to clean up or work in the concession and we do provide grants for that.”
The annual Fall Fair has already been set for Sept. 10. This year's event is expected to be larger than previous years and could also see the addition of a family dance, added Michelle Dargis, a member of the Bonnyville ag. society.
Indian Relay Races
Whether or not an Indian Relay Race will take place at the Bonnyville Pro Rodeo grounds is still up in the air, according to Dows.
“What's called the Super Series, will be going through to the different casinos and having a big tour. They go through the United States, but I know they will be hitting Edmonton, Calgary and they are looking for grounds in our area,” he continued.
Organizers are currently looking for large corporate sponsors in order to finance an Indian Relay Race locally for late July.
Dows said that previous races have drawn a large crowd and there is an appetite in the community to host the event again.
“If we do attract the Indian Relay Races, we will not be asking for additional funds. We will dig in our heels, and we'll figure it out,” he told council.
Kehewin Powwow
During the same meeting, council also passed a motion to provide $1,000 to Kehewin Cree Nation yearly for the Nation’s annual powwow.
The three-day event will be held on July 29- 31.
In 2019 and previous years, the Town of Bonnyville donated $250 towards the powwow in return for online and social media sponsorship acknowledgments as well verbal recognition at the event.
“This has a direct impact on our town,” said Coun. Byron Johnson. "The Kehewin community is a big part of our community being neighbours. I think this is something we should look at annually and maybe look at doing a little bit more for them because it's a very important event and it brings a lot of people into the area.”
Coun. Kayla Blanchette followed with a motion to make the sponsorship an annual contribution but also to increase the amount to $1,000.
“I think that we've expressed that working together with our neighbours is very important to all of us. And not only a key step in fostering relationship with the Nation, but also with people with ties to Kehewin that live in town,” said Blanchette.
“If you look at it from an economic perspective, people from Kehewin spend their money in Bonnyville every day.”
Council won’t play golf
Bonnyville’s Town council was invited to take part in Lac La Biche County’s Healthier Community Golf Tournament.
The proceeds from this tournament will go towards Lac La Biche Regional Health Foundation and Portage College.
Although council members decided against attending the Lac La Biche County’s golf tournament, a motion was passed to sponsor up to $750 worth of items.
