SUNDRE – The Sundre Flying Club’s traditional Mother’s Day Fly-in Breakfast regrettably had to be grounded this year, organizers said.
The once-annual event, which previously had only been cancelled as a result of COVID-19 public health protocols and just last year made a comeback, would have been this Sunday, May 14.
“We just don’t have the volunteer commitment this year,” said Sheldon Valentine, who earlier this year was elected vice-president.
“It just seems like everybody is gone or is busy that weekend, which is unfortunate,” said Valentine.
Working a rotation as a medical evacuation pilot in Fort McMurray, Valentine was up north when he took a call from the Albertan on May 3, and said he’ll be returning home one day before the event would have been scheduled.
“I’m always working that weekend and this was the first year that actually I could’ve actually come and helped out, and we’re not having it,” he said.
Asked if the club might plan to do a volunteer drive ahead of next year’s fly-in breakfast to ensure enough helping hands are lined up well in advance, he said, “I would think so; we don’t have any plans yet.”
However, he also recognized the Mother’s Day Fly-in Breakfast’s appeal to many people in the community who look forward to watching the aircraft land and takeoff at the Sundre Airport.
“We’ve had a really good following over the years; lots of people coming out all the time,” he said.
Responding to a question about whether there might be any other plans or projects over the coming months, he said the flying club is for the time being largely maintaining a holding pattern until the board reaches a consensus on a direction.
“We don’t have a lot going on at the club right now,” he candidly confessed. “We’re actually just pretty stalemated here right now (since earlier in the new year) honestly until we figure out what we want to do and carry on with some new ideas.”
Generally speaking, the club has over the past couple of years seen some ups and downs, with the situation looking more up than down these days, he said, praising the work Mountain View County has done for the Sundre Airport.
