SUNDRE — Barring any further enhanced pandemic restrictions by the time August rolls around, the Sundre Pro Rodeo is scheduled to make a come back after organizers were forced last summer to cancel the event for the first time in its 40-year history.
After for the past month or so brainstorming options to host the rodeo that would adhere to public health protocols and meet Alberta Health Services (AHS) guidelines, members of the Sundre Rodeo and Race Association’s board decided during a meeting on Wednesday, April 14 to postpone the event until Aug. 6-8, which has traditionally been held the third weekend in June.
The date was determined largely through conversations with stock contractors to establish the most suitable schedule with the fewest conflicts, said Shane Crouch, association president, who has also coordinated efforts with a small group of representatives from AHS.
“I’ve been non-stop on the phone here since Wednesday just lining everybody up,” Crouch said Saturday morning during an interview, pleased to announce Calgary Stampede stock was back on the docket.
“It was the only weekend that was going to work for them, and we really wanted to have Calgary Stampede back as our main stock contractor, because we believe they’re the best contractor we have up in Canada.”
Although specific details and acts remain to be confirmed, Crouch sounded optimistic that rodeo clown and entertainer Dennis Halstead might be part of the show.
But among the stock contractors that have committed to return are the Calgary Stampede as well as Macza Rodeo, he said, adding that also scheduled are contractors Darren Shaw, timed event stock; Lawrence Pengally, novice event stock; and Duane Ashbacher, junior steer riding stock.
Additionally, he said plenty of long-time backers did not hesitate to pitch in to help make the pro rodeo’s return possible.
“I’ve reached out to all of our sponsors through email over the last couple of months,” said Crouch, adding that he felt, “Overwhelmed still by the continued support of our community — our sponsor base is phenomenal here.”
Information outlined in a letter by Alberta’s chief medical officer, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, forecast the possibility of opening up outdoor venues to 50 per cent capacity with a limit of 500 people by the end of June, he said.
That was also factored into the decision to postpone the pro rodeo until August, since being restricted to a maximum of 500 people in grandstands that can seat several thousand wouldn’t make the event feasible, he said.
“That 500 is really hard for us when we can seat 3,000," he said.
But the association firmly believes the community would benefit from a big, family-friendly event that people can look forward to, and will endeavour to do whatever possible to make that happen.
That could also include the return of the annual pancake breakfast and parade, whose organizers are also onboard, he said.
“We’re planning for an August parade and hopefully an August pancake breakfast," he said.
The additional delay will also hopefully buy some time to offer public health measures and vaccinations more of a chance to have an effect on case counts and by extension restrictions, he said.
“It was just the smart thing for us to do with the uncertainty of where we’re at right now,” he said about the decision to postpone the pro rodeo, adding that with June already so close, “We were running out of time.”
And outright pulling the plug simply was not an option, he said.
“I cannot say the word ‘cancel’ this year — I just don’t want to, unless we’re forced to,” he said. “Postponing was way better than cancelling, in my opinion.”
Last year, postponing was not an option since the season’s remaining dates had already been booked well in advance.
This year, however, although some rodeo organizers are making plans to proceed, several other Canadian Professional Rodeo Association events have already been cancelled in Canada, he said.
Now into the second year of the pandemic, Crouch said COVID-19 still presents a level of unpredictability.
“Everybody has to do their part, I understand that,” he said.
Ideally, Crouch said the association is collectively crossing its fingers to open up the grandstands without restrictions.
“Full capacity is what we’re hoping,” he said.
Recognizing that might be a little optimistic, he added the association is prepared to adjust as required by provincially mandated health restrictions.
“We’ll adapt to whatever AHS does. We’re prepared to social distance and put in barriers — whatever we have to do — to protect patrons.”
If worse comes to worst, Crouch said the rodeo could still proceed at 50 per cent capacity, provided there’s no maximum limit of 500 people in the stands.
And further postponing the rodeo any later than Aug. 6-8 “won’t be an option, just because there’s no weekends left” afterward.
