An unexpected delay in Alberta’s agricultural societies receiving their provincial funding this year has raised more than a few eyebrows around the province. While the funding did eventually come through earlier this fall, several months after its anticipated June arrival time, there’s some unease among those associated with agricultural societies as to what the future holds.
The delay in arrival of funding to the province’s 284 primary agricultural societies was initially chalked up to “systemic issues” for processing the annual applications. The final delay was pinpointed to the Government of Alberta “looking at and revaluating” programming as it examined opportunities for potential savings on its operations, according to Tim Carson, chief executive officer of the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies.
There was a collective sigh of relief when it was announced funding to the tune of $8.7 million earmarked for agricultural societies would remain unchanged this budget year, Carson said. While there’s never been a guarantee of provincial support, this year’s unexpected delay raised some concern, especially among small, rural ag societies, many of which count on the funds to help offset costs of operating facilities in their communities.
“There’s such a diversity in what agricultural societies provide,” Carson said, noting that facilities such as curling and hockey rinks, halls and ball diamonds are operated by ag societies across the province. Additionally, many community events such as fairs, sports tournaments and rodeos are spearhead by ag. society volunteers.
“Agricultural societies are the community hub. They draw communities together,” he said, adding the provincial association will continue to advocate on the value and impact of ag societies in communities across Alberta.
While the $17,500 on average that rural ag. societies received this year is not a significant amount, it makes a significant difference when it comes to paying such expenses as utility bills, said Andre Chamberland, president of the St. Paul Agricultural Society. It certainly helps pay the bills at the local Ag. Barn, he said.
“It is very important the funding stays. You’ve got a lot of rural community where the ag societies are running the curling rinks, and running the arenas, too.” Chamberland said. “If the government takes that away from the ag societies, eventually you’re going to lose rural Alberta.”
Amanda Amyotte is president of the Mallaig Agricultural Society, which operates all of the recreation facilities in the town including the hockey arena, curling arena and the recreation grounds. While the minor hockey association and curling clubs step up to run the facilities during the winter months, it falls on the ag. society to stay on top of costs during the off-season including utilities, building maintenance and repairs.
“I think it’s very important to keep the community alive. We keep it vibrant. Without the ag. society, Mallaig wouldn’t be a very active community.”
News of the funding delay this year was stressful.
“When we heard we possibly wouldn’t get it, we had to start looking at where to cut. Utilities alone is a huge cost, add on to that insurance and maintenance and, without that money, we wouldn’t be able to do the programs we do,” Amyotte said. If funding support from the province doesn’t continue, “we may not be able to have a hockey program here. It would be a major impact.”
That impact could be far-reaching with Amyotte pointing out it’s Mallaig’s active community involvement, driven by the ag. society, that is a significant reason the community is attractive to young families in the first place.
In spite of this year’s funding hiccup, Chamberland is confident the province will continue to support ag. societies going forward.
“I think it will continue, I really do. If they don’t want to lose these little rural communities, they are going to have to continue supporting ag. societies.
At the provincial level, Carson said his association will continue to advocate for agricultural societies. With a $1.1 billion estimated replacement value for primary agricultural society infrastructure in the province and an estimated $44.2 million in revenue going back into Alberta’s economy, the contribution of ag. societies to the overall wellbeing of the province is hard to ignore.
