INNISFAIL – Calling all soap box derby enthusiasts.
The Innisfail Lions Club is proposing a soap box derby for Innisfail, providing there is enough public interest.
“A few months ago we decided we’d like to look into it,” said Lance Riley, treasurer with the Lions Club. “We just thought it was something the Lions Club might like to get involved with.”
The idea is still in the early planning stages said Riley.
“We’ve taken it to the town and the town has approved it in theory,” he said, adding they have not yet presented the idea to council and no details have been finalized.
“We want to take what the Lions Club is trying to propose to the community to see if there is interest in the community to do it,” explained Riley.
If the idea takes off, the club would propose holding the soap box derby late next summer.
“I think it would be a fun day,” said Riley, noting that if any funds were raised, proceeds would be returned to the community.
To the club’s knowledge, there has never been a soap box derby in Innisfail, said Riley, adding that the club would consider supplying a number of cars, with materials and blueprints at their cost, as it would lessen the work and resources needed for participants.
"The Lions Club is an organization that supports community functions and tries to enrich community participation," he said. "We feel this is something that would enrich the community itself. Everybody would benefit from it."
Riley is encouraging anyone interested in participating in a soap box derby to contact the Innisfail Lions Club so they can gather the level of interest and any feedback in the community, before they move ahead with the idea.
“If anyone is interested, they could email the Lions Club with what they think,” said Riley. “(The idea is) there so that everybody in the community could participate in it and have some fun.”
For more information or to express interest in a soap box derby, contact the Innisfail Lions Club at [email protected]
