Just took this off my fellow bloggers site John Prince at http://blog.johnprince.ca/
Dear Editor:
Upon learning of Crowsnest Pass Municipal Council's decision to cancel the upcoming Thunder In The Valley event originally scheduled for July 2012, we would like to express our sincere disappointment.
For the past eighteen years we have poured our hearts and souls, as well as thousands of volunteer hours, into putting on one of the largest fireworks shows in southern Alberta. We would also like to thank the people of the Crowsnest Pass for their overwhelming support that has allowed us to continue for almost two decades.
It has been made evident to us over the past few months that Council, as well as the RCMP, have lacked the support or desire to see this event continue. As it finally came to a tipping point on March 6, 2012, it became very clear that the members of the council have been looking for reasons to cancel the event rather than find solutions to promote and continue with it.
In an email from Councillor Saindon on March 7th, he informed us that even though "(they) know this event draws an enormous crowd (that they) as a committee need to move forward with new events that will still draw people and make the weekend a success."
We have always contended that we did not want to push an event on this town that was not desired. We now have to accept that it is not. Council has informed us that they do not have an adequate plan in place to address the concerns raised. This appears to be no more than an excuse, using the guise of inflated cost evaluations coupled with the refusal to make appropriate plans. We question as to why council has deferred this planning until only a few months prior to an event of such a large scale in the community? As far as we understand, the monetary value of the policing and management of the Rum Runner Days weekend was a large factor in council's decision.
After reviewing the proposed 'budget,' which is full of inflated figures, it is no wonder that they decided to cancel the event. Rather than working with the current situation, they would prefer to go in a different direction and "focus on the parade, car show, Gazebo park events, free stage, potential concert, dinner and dance etc."
We also find it unusual that the Municipal council based its decision on the recommendation of two individuals, the CAO and the Interim Manager, Enforcement Services, neither of whom even live in the community full time nor took the time to meet with our organization to discuss their concerns.
However, as mentioned in our original statement following the announcement, we do not agree with Municipal council's decision, but we will abide by it as they have been elected to speak for the people of the Crowsnest Pass.
We do find it interesting that the municipality has recently found funds available to create several new positions and to spend enormous amounts of money on having bylaws created and revised, but when it came to spending money on public safety for an event that draws thousands to the area, the financial burden became too high.
Interestingly enough, the Crowsnest Pass Promoter recently published an article regarding a new fireworks bylaw, in which Donna Tona is quoted as saying "If we continue with our fireworks show, Thunder in the Valley, we do need to follow the rules of the province [and] all the Acts.”
We find this surprising as news to us, as the members of our organization are regulated by the Federal Government through the Explosives Regulatory Branch and use fireworks that are not subject to provincial acts. It brings into question how much research was actually done by her.
Following that up, the article mentions that "Mayor Decoux questioned why Thunder in the Valley organizers haven’t brought the issue to the attention of the RCMP if it was against federal law." Quite honestly, we are embarrassed that the mayor's ignorance regarding what we have been doing for the past eighteen years. We did not realize that it was a volunteer organization's responsibility to ensure that the municipal council was doing its due diligence in matters of legality.
Between the comments of Tona and Decoux in the article, our organization was quite offended, making us feel that we have been nothing but a group of common criminals for the last eighteen years.
We would ask that before Mayor Decoux or Interim Manager, Enforcement Services speak publicly about our organization in the future that they would do some adequate research to avoid slandering our organization's reputation. Possibly in the future they may want to actually consult us directly on such matters.
Thunder in the Valley Committee
72 comments:
so just a bit confused JP has quit quiting ??
This council should have come clean on the issue from the beginning. Instead they chose to skirt around the real issues. There is a power struggle between the BFD and council and anyone with half a brain knew it from the beginning. The challenges in hosting the event could have been met if council was truly interested. Now this council is going to get an education on how things work around here They should have picked their battle. The fireman are just too well connected and rightfully so. Has anyone on council done as much for this community as the fireman.
Well written letter makes reference to a lot of good points.
The question now will be after identifying the ignorance of Decoux, Tona and the rest of the gang.
How do you think the Fire Department will be punished retribution will be coming.
Talking of money, at the Town hall meeting Decoux said that the Fire Chief would cost $105,000 a year in salary + benefits (plus pick up, computer, cell phone etc maybe $150,000 in total).
All that money to run a department that has a budget of $400,000 a year.
Doesn't make a lot of sense when they could not afford Thunder in the Valley.
I would challenge council to present the costs for last year. Then we could debate some real numbers instead of this years "pretend inflated" budget that was never intended to be used.
At least that's the way I see it.
Do you not see that we have the lowest reserves of any town. We just cannot afford everything. Does not matter where anyone is from, they are in charge. Voters made it that way. Live with it and quit complaining all the time.
Yes we have the lowest reserves. So if the event was cancelled for financial reasons why is our council attempting to solve the unemployment problem in western Canada.
Ask your Councillor to supply the information on how much has been spent on Consultants.
Larry
Hey Dean, Thanks for the great coverage and exposure on this matter. Do you think if the people of Crowsnest Pass ban together and put enough pressure on council, we could still have Thunder in the Valley this year? The Thunder in the Valley website is still claiming there will be a show this year. What’s going on? http://thunderinthevalley.ca/
It appears they are also putting on a Yuk Yuk's.
http://thunderinthevalley.ca/yukyuks.htm
How do you become a consultant? First, the most common way, you need to lose your job. This does not mean that all consultants are bad - all it means is that not all consultants are good. How and why you hire a consultant. Make a plan in your head why you need one, ask your friends for recommendations, call around, if you hear one who seems agreeable, hire the consultant. Now, if there happens to be a committee that is supposed to oversee your operations, limit the number of meetings; put them into a closed information loop, burry them in paper (mostly produced by the consultant), but any paper will do. Since these meetings may still prove not entirely controllable, try to reduce them to one a month, this will give you an opportunity to bury your colleagues with even bigger reams of paper. In a perfect world, you would want to keep your committee in a permanent recess, but even you know that this could be hard to explain. When everyone is exhausted from reading the ever mounting piles of paper, have a consultant make a presentation in front of you that sounds ridiculous to everyone, except to you and your exhausted colleagues. Then, when your actions open the entire committee to public ridicule, blame everything on the media and a few troublemakers. If at this point your committee does not ask you to change your methods, you got them where you want them, and carry on.
We vote in people to do a job, let them do it. I think a different venu would be great - like a dance and comedy, etc. A little bit more dignified and maybe we would attract a different crowd. Here is hoping.
Perhaps a little perspective is needed.
http://www.kony2012.com/
Take 30 minutes and watch the video.
Suddenly fireworks don't seem that important
Very interesting! Let the games begin!(or should I say, continue) The longer that web site stays up, the more people, that will show up looking for a party on July 21st. I hope the municipality realises they will need more security this year, than ever before.
8:36
Maybe we can bring in the bar band from Fort macleod. We should bring in at least 7-8 people.
Comedy there appears to be a Yuks Yuks on April 17.
8:38 Trying to distract from the issue or worse yet make people feel bad for having an opinion is the oldest trick in the Crowsnest Pass book. Funny, the example you gave implies that you think people should have a voice.I guess you mean, only if they agree with you?
Regarding the comments at 6:52, "Now this council is going to get an education on how things work around here. They should have picked their battle. The fireman are just too well connected and rightfully so."
This sounds like a threat, to me. These kinds of attitudes seem quite prevalent among some Crowsnest Pass residents. I applaud the BFD for what they have done in the past, but who is in charge of running this town. Is it the firemen or the people we elected?
As I understand it, Rum Runner is ON and TITV is OFF. Both events are held in the same weekend and there may plenty of confusion about which committee seems to be which.
The current post is signed by the "TITV Committee" ... I presume that is the firemen who put on TITV.
The town press release says that the "Steering Committee" (Saindon's group?)identified problems with the logistics of TITV and was instrumental in recommending its cancellation for this year, at least.
I get the feeling that there is some hostility between the firemen and council. Ya think? What an unfortunate divisive way of handling the issue!
Hatfields and McCoys ... which side are you on?
The Strategic Plan (presented a year ago) praised the Rum Runner weekend for giving exposure to the Pass. TITV is the sexy draw, not the parade! The Plan also recommended that its organization get more professional. Where have our elected officials been between Apr and Nov when the call for volunteers was published?
We elected a bunch of people who are afraid to tackle real situations ... better to avoid them. Now it has blown up in their faces with BIG political consequences. It has divided the community between TITV supporters and opponents.
Figure out what changes to the traditional plan would solve the very real problems with TITV crowds! If money is the only problem, postpone the hiring of new staff/consultants for a month!
Dean, as a former councilor can you tell me how much this municipality has given to Sinister 7 whether it was monetary or in kind? Who is going to control the traffic for this now? Do we need Peace Officers or is volunteers good enough for this event? What about all the campers on ISS soccer field? Maybe it is time to cancel this event as I find it very disruptive to get around when these people are running on our streets? Any comments Councilor Gallant???
Where is Lisa and the Newpaper now. Maybe if you had known, that the purchase of advertising,would have made you best friends, things would be different now. I am disappointed that the people of the Pass feel that this is acceptable but are still considering signing up for the Big Country Jamboree contest. What about crowd control then. Also it does not make sense that cancelling Thunder will save while the Rum Runner days will cost nothing???
Well lets wait and see what Tuesday paper brings. Lets give them a fair chance. Maybe they will be critical of "their" team.
If this doesn't flush them out maybe the demolition of the Albert Stella, or the reduction of hours at the swimming pool. Or the hiring of another administrator, or the hiring of two peace officers. Or the spanking of the fire departments, or the upcoming tax increases will. Or all the money we have spent on consultants, or all the money spent rewriting policies, or procedures, or bylaws.
Boy is that ever tiring.
But let's be patient and see what this weeks papers have to say.
Diana
You lost me. Why would the firemen have any say in anything? They do not run the town - they are workers bees just like the rest of us. They should not influence any decison, any way, any day!!
Small town politics its the way it works here.
12:34 many firemen here are masons, many masons here are business owners who one way or another are affected 'big time' by this decision of council to cancel (maybe for good) our 'Thunder in the Valley' fireworks for this year. Very divisive issue that will have long term implications that maybe felt for years to come.
JP
I would suspect that a lot of the opposition is coming from some business owners. A few stand to lose a lot. However, most will not lose much business, if any, over this. In fact, some will become busier without the madness the masses bring to our community. Listen everyone; The sky is not falling. The sun will still rise over Crowsnest Pass on Sunday July 22nd. Wait and see.
John, you raise a good point. I do not know if anyone wants to get into the town secrets but do you think this secret society is part of what keeps this place suppressed and backwards? Maybe the short term pain of losing the TITV may be worth the long term gain of the council taking control back. It is hard to imagine such a bold move was done in ignorance.
Regarding: Small town politics its the way it works here
If that is the answer, then I guess we just live with whatever happens.
It doesn't have to be the way it works here.
Like i said before council and obviously some of your viewers are going to get an education on how things work around here. This is not a threat just the way i have seen municipal politics work here. For those who dont realize what is going on the fireman are just too well connected to the residents here . Combine the thunder in the valley situation and the proposed changes to the fire/rescue departments and you have a serious problem on your hands. These fireman are all volunteers who do most of the events for this community. Do you think they are going to bail this council out by lending a helping hand for Rum Runners days. Stay tuned watch and learn
Anon @4:38
"... do you think this secret society is part of what keeps this place suppressed and backwards?"
Yep.
"Maybe the short term pain of losing the TITV may be worth the long term gain of the council taking control back."
Good point. Time will tell? That is if this in fact is what is happening? Right now mayor and council have a big time media relations problem in that they are looking like they have dropped the ball, are in over their heads, and trailing badly.
JP
Not to worry. The problem is "transitional". Who do you really think is calling the shots?
Jose
Anom 4:38-Not for one minute do I think council has a strategy. This is what you get when two big egos clash and councilors such as Sandion afraid to speak up. If he is so weak he tells the Lethbridge media "he had nothing to do with the event and didn't know anything about it" I do not think he has the balls to tell Decoux to get over himself. Those that know the mayor best don't call him "Pompous Bruce" for no reason.
Imagine a committee that is being fed a very steady, and one-sided, diet of bureaucratic recommendations and reports before each meeting. They are good people and it appears that they are doing the best that they can with the information they are provided with. There is nothing sinister here, it may be simply the result of lack of capacity at the front office for a point and counter-point presentations. After all, they are working with limited resources. It also appears that when one of the committee members wants to raise a point, or seek clarification, the chair reacts pretty quickly. Agenda is a sacred and guarded holy document and only the high priests should have access to its creation. The committee members should be kept very busy with multiple tasks, dispirited and isolated. Should this tight control be broken, politics may break out, and the committee members may find that it is they, and not the high priests, who are really in charge. The media has given the high priests a pretty free pass for a long time now. There always is a counter point, if it is not presented at the committee table, they should read about in the papers.
The comments from 9:33 obviously are from someone who sat around the table with our Mayor and has stated very well what goes on. I for one think the lack of debate and openness by this council is leading to a lot of problems. When the Leader thinks he knows best without true consultation with the people involved, it the responsibility of the other elected officials to draw attention to HIS WORSHIPS disrespectful conduct…much like Dean did with our former Mayor. It was helpful for the new councilors on the previous two councils to hear another ways of looking at issues.
WOW what a comment by 9:33. It did not make sense to me after 18 successful years of Thunder and many of the aspects such as traffic getting better why did the problems become insurmountable this year? This comment brings a lot of insight. I am beginning to hear over and over the mayor runs a very controlled meeting. Maybe Peace Officers with shot guns is a reflection of him?
It is pretty hard for the Pass Herald to have a voice after they worked steady for two years to discredited four members of the last council. First by going door to door with a petition to Edmonton wanting them removed and when that failed they gave them two years of negative press. What ever you think of this council, good or bad we can thank the Pass Herald for them. The Americans have shown us, negative press works but I think the Herald got caught up with their personal issues in the CLC and misused a trusted position.
Dean, I see Gallant is happy the people posting on his blog use their real name. I guess this is to contrast your blog where many people post Anonymous. Does this make his blog more legitimate then your?
Everbody gets to run their blog as they see fit.
Some people are very comfortable using their name some not.
But anybody that has lived here any length of time knows that some people have gotten a very hard time over the years because of a position they have taken.
How many business people have told me over the years I can't take a political position without my business being impacted.
Sad isn't it.
It appears that in the absence of communication from our Mayor, Mr. Gallant is taking upon himself the role of the Spokesperson for this series of unfortunate events.
Well I read the article on Mr Saindon. He didn't know he did know?
Confusing
Gallant is only worried about safety?
Maybe we could use all the additional new employees and consultants to patrol at Thunder
120 Firemen/Rescue
360 Wifes/Kids (1 + 2kids)
720 Family (6 members)
1200 Circle of Friends (10 friends)
2400 people in total
How many people usually vote here.
I can see where Peter Rosner is coming from.
Lance
People afraid to have a comment as it will affect their business.
Scary stuff indeed. Sounds like mini crowsnest mafia. Yikes, why do people put up with this. I think we have to trust the council on certain situations. Perhaps they know some things that the general public does not.
Should our council, with all that deep knowledge, be able to prevent increases in our high taxes and fees, then all this Thunder in the Valley stuff will be quickly forgotten.
Anom 12:54
I would not call it mini mafia…there are no guns involved but it is a fact of life here and SOME people of influence like to let you know they can cause havoc if they choose. Reason…who knows maybe the gene pool got too small. Why do people put up with it? What choice do they have if someone chooses to use their family influence in a covert way? When you grow up here you think this normal.
I disagree with your last comment on trusting the council because they may be apprised of more information. Knowledge is power. When the public is in the dark they are disadvantaged. At election time there was a lot of talk about transparency. This is the least transparent council we have had. A lot the ideas being hatched by this council can not stand the light of openness. Blind faith is a formula for disaster.
Dean, is Thunder in the Valley one of those inefficiencies that was talked about at election time?
There is a quite interesting comment on John princes blog from one of the people on the commitee.I think this whole issue is nothing more than a power play by our mayor and his 6 lemmings.They all seem to even have differant excuses.Some say it is money, others say it is security or lack of volunteers.On Brian Gallants blog he even says he is getting more positive feedback than negative feedback on the Thunder issue, I find that a little hard to believe.He also says the task force recommened this, but what he does not say is the task force recommended the whole weekend to be expanded and to build off of Thunder.The task force never said to cancel it!!!
I have never known a community to be so disrespectful of the people that they themselves have voted into place. Our Councl is being horribly maligned for cancelling Thunder in the Valley,(which is a responsible and sensible decison), and they would most certainly be even more abused if anything dreadful happened as a result of the unruly, drunken party that Thunder in the Valley has become.
This is aforementioned comment: Wholy moly is all I can say; I think we need an outside AUDIT!!!
Spitzfire said...
Last year (2011) it was decided by council that the Municipality of the CNP was no longer going to the work for, accept the responsibilities for and pay the money for Rum Runner Days and Thunder in the Valley. They wanted a committee of volunteers to take over the event planning and organizing. They also wanted this committee to find ways to make the event pay for itself, instead of using municipal funds (sic: taxpayers money). This committee for Rum Runner Day's was not stuck up until December of last year (2011). An advertisement ran for almost three months looking for people/volunteers to step up and help with this event. Of this entire valley, I was the only applicant. Council then had to appoint a council member (Emile Saindon), to head up the committee. Our first meeting was in December and we had to recruit people to attend. We had about 20 people show up, including Emile Saindon and his wife Candace, Donna Tona (Interim Enforcement Services Manager), two other councilors (Brian Gallant and Siegbert Gail), Marion Vanoni (the Municipality Director of Finance and Corporate Services, and Myron Thompson (CAO) and Rick Breakenridge (President of the CNP Chamber of Commerce). As far as I can remember the rest were just regular citizens like me. We discussed the issues surrounding RR Day's and TITV. We adjourned with not too much accomplished except that there was much to do, many problems and not much time to do it all. There were obvious problem's that the Police (RCMP and the Solicitor General), CPR and the Municipality wanted solved. The biggest issue they sited was security and then money. Over the course of the next two months this group dwindled to about 7 people and hashed and rehashed the problems, with accomplishing much of nothing. Yours truly (me of course) was very frustrated at the lack of concern over time and issues. I finally made a motion twice in order to move on some of the issues. It still never made much difference.
March 11, 2012 9:33 PM
I also said:
Spitzfire said...
Emile encountered frustration over the fact that no records seemed to have been kept by the main person in charge over the last numerous years. This person is Marion Vanoni; who just happens to be the Director of Finance and Corporate Services of the Municipality of the CNP. Now, that's a scary thought. We are entrusting our Municipal records and finances to someone who hasn't seemed to keep records for such an event as TITV and RR Days. We asked her several times for the records and were told there were not really any accurate or real one's kept. WHY NOT?!!?!? We were told that it ran the municipality about $125,000 each year to put on the event. This amount did not include the cost of the fireworks and what the Thunder in the Valley committee did (for example making up T-shirts and sweatshirts). The TITV committee head Blair Painter made it quite clear that we were running out of time for them to order the fireworks. Then at our last meeting February 29th, he told us that the three months remaining until TITV really was not enough time now in order for them to get the fireworks in time. He said that it took 3 months alone for them to come across on the boat. they said that they ideally needed more time that what we had left. He explained to us that the fireworks had to be ordered, made , packaged, shipped on the boat, then had to clear Canadian Customs, then sent to them here in the Pass. A time frame that obviously would take much longer than the three months that we had left. He clearly was upset at the who situation. At this same meeting Emile did up a rough financial worksheet for us to go over. This was then submitted to council for approval at the March 6th council meeting. On our financial worksheet we showed the money needed for extra RCMP policing, additional Peace Officers and all the other usual cost's to put on this event. We did come up with a few ideas of where to recoup some of these costs by having designated camping (clearing up the random camping problem), designated parking places, running shuttle bus service (dealing with traffic issues) and then charging a nominal fee for these services. All told our expenses on this worksheet were about $168,880.00 and the income was about $75,130.00. Bringing our final expenses down to about $93,750.00. Funny that, now council is saying that it will cost $200,000 to do the event and they said nothing of the income. They site too high cost, fireworks bylaw or lack of, and security as the reasons for cancellation. I know that we have been had. People we have been duped!! But if no one comes out to the council meetings and the RR committee meetings in order to challenge these reasons, then we just go on believing what they tell us. I, for one, do not!!! I have the figures in front of me. I have been to the meetings. I have been volunteering my time. I am frustrated that more of this community does not get up off their backsides and out from behind their computers and come help volunteer. Where were you during this process?? Now everyone is upset, and you have a right to be. But if more had show up to challenge the issues, then this ultimate ending might have been different. JMHO. BTW still looking for voluteers to Rum runner Day's. That is a whole new kettle of fish. Don't get me started on that. If we didn't have the money for Rum Runner Days before TITV was cancelled how can we still put on the event now?? Answer me that....
No records kept by the finance person - now that is the scariest thing I have read on this site.
Did anybody read the Herald editorial talk about ripping these guys a new arsehole.
If the previous council had done this the paper would have been thicker than "War and Peace"
There would have been article upon article slaming them.
I guess all you have to do is drink at the right bar with the right people.
Or show up every Halloween for those famous toffee apples. LOL
Matt
Has anyone thought about the people that attend TITV that may be interested in purchasing real estate here? I am not a realtor but it makes sense to me that some of the people that attend this event would recognize the beauty of the area. But then we would get back to the old weekender's debate!!!
To 09:47
Thunder in the valley has been going for 18 years, yet our population has been declining. I don't think the TITV attendees are home buyers.
Who knows, the real estate market may actually pick up now, particularly for listings on the south side of the tracks in Blairmore.
Just put my house on the market(south of the tracks). Getting the hell out of here before it gets worst. CNP area -1 Fernie/Sparwood +1 Thanks Ayatollah Decoux and disciples.
As usual, some people overreacting like they do in the Pass.
I have never seen such opininated people, thinking without doubt that they are right. As mentioned before, compromise is not a word in the vocabulalry of a CNP resident. I don't think it is good to pick apart everything without knowing all the details. I don't think we are privy to everything. I don't think that happens at any level of government. I would be afraid to be a councillor here - people are kind of erractic.
"South" of the tracks. You are too weird. And so goes on the weird ideas that the old people in CNP have. I have never seen such a divided area in my entire life. I am starting to wish I had never moved here. The people are like from the 1920's.
South of the tracks, north, east and west, still lots of dumpy properties. Can't wait for the new bylaws.
I just read Emile Saindon's blog about TITV. I really appreciate that he lets us know things that are going on. Actually, I believe he is quite transparent. Imagine, back in 2007 hearing about the issues and nothing was done......
Ha ha, listed your house, where are you going to move?
To Calgary where the average price is over $400,000.
5:21
Two comments for you to think about, while you continue to be part of the snow job.
Councillor Saindon and the rest of his council were elected in Oct 2010.
If safety was a real issue way back in 2007 why did they allow it to go ahead last year.
They did not cancel this year until early March if safety was the issue they had ample time last year.
The RCMP show concern every time they meet with the organizers of a large event. (It is the proper thing)
Do you honestly think that the Lethbridge Air Show, Calgary stampede, or any other large event holds in it's hand a guarantee of safety from the RCMP.
I know it is not on the same level but why not cancel the fireworks because Environment Canada cannot guarantee that it will not rain that weekend.
Brent
You are silly. Cannot compare the Calgary Stampede to here. And there are a lot of police on the grounds, always. It takes time for a new council to figure everything out. Unfortunately everyone will not be happy with their decisions, but that's life.
8:38
I know the Stampede is not the same thing.!!!
That is not my point, it is do you think there is any event anywhere in Alberta, Canada for that matter where the RCMP would not raise concerns. (30,000 people)
Plus is there any where that you can tell me they have given a guarantee of safety?
That is the point.
To the point of time the committee did not start meeting until November and made the decision in March. Could have done the same thing last year same time frames.
Why were these safety concerns not raised last year. If they were why did TITV go ahead?
Brent
Yes, exactly. Sounds like it should have been cancelled like 5 years ago.
Brent, I agree 100%. I have to believe this is all about power, council does not like the way the Blairmore fire department responded to their requests. So the big ego said find me an excuse and we will shut it down and the lemmings jumped aboard.
They say they had a lenghty debate and it was a tough decision and yet the vote was 6-0.WOW
Is there a reason why the organizers of Thunder In The Valley are, or were, so against changing the venue for the fireworks? I don’t believe they will ever be able to fix some of the problems regarding public safety, traffic and the CPR, as long as they are using downtown Blairmore as the location for the fireworks. It's become too large an event, drawing too large a crowd. Would someone not have suggested the baseball complex near the Hillcrest Cemetery as an alternate site? I believe this was suggested right here on this blog before. I'm sure there would be plenty of room for this event at that location. Probably would also be able to set up a campground or two. The disturbance would be minimal to residents. It would be easy to have a gate for admission and still leave plenty of areas where people could watch from outside the grounds. I’m sure there are other logistics to consider, but I’d like to hear why it can’t be held at the ball complex. Are they concerned another slide will occur on the mountain while the fireworks are happening?
I realize some of the business owners in Blairmore would not approve of moving things, but others probably wouldn’t mind at all. There are a certain number of people who wonder through some of the shops in Blairmore during the day, but many of these people would still come into town for the parade, midway and other events. I wonder how many of the 20,000 to 30,000 people who attend the fireworks, come an hour or two prior to the show and don’t patronize any of the stores, anyway. It’s too late for this year, but if there’s any hope for this event to continue next year there will need to be some major compromising on both sides.
Without a doubt, Thunder In The Valley has helped put Crowsnest Pass on the map. It definitely brings a lot of people here for this weekend. Unfortunately, it has also created major problems within the community. The people who organize and control this event, and those who stand to gain the most, need to realize this. Having said that, hopefully, there will be a way to resolve this. Otherwise, maybe it’s best for all involved to move on to other things. Perhaps they already have.
Brent:
According to the Promoter last month:
Southern Alberta District Operations Officer Inspector Joe McGeough ... said other events in the province evolved in the same way and are no longer provided RCMP members. The organizers now pay for security for events such as the Lethbridge Air Show and Big Valley Jamboree, he said.
...
This is something we’ve done in all the other communities. This is the last event we’ve struggled with getting the manpower
Council was told the same last year by our local RCMP but they didn't get the message, so the RCMP sent the big brass to make it loud and clear.
I think this got Council's attention:
McGeough explained that he is often called to give testimony at inquiries on behalf of the RCMP. In the event he is required to do so regarding Rum Runner Days, he said he would have no hesitation testifying that he has outlined the police’s concerns.
What bugs me is that I voted for some of these guys because they claimed to be all about proper policies and procedures. Instead they hand off important issues of public safety, liability and spending to an informal "unofficial" committee. They then make decisions based on information and advice from this "outside" group, even though Chairman Saindon has declared "conflict of interest" because of his involvement.
The proper legal way would have been to appoint an official Council Committee with members sworn in and subject to conflict of interest rules and transparency about their sources of information. It would then not be necessary for the Chairman to abstain from voting on Council. Since membership in a non-profit group is specifically not a valid reason for abstaining, Saindon may technically be disqualified from Council (others may be in the same boat).
What a Gong Show.
To anonymous at 12:47.pm.
Maybe if you had come out to any one of numerous the Rum Runner Committee meetings, you might have seen that we did put forth many of the great ideas that you suggested. Only to be shot down by council. Council asked for solutions, we complied with great suggestions, only for us to get shot down and shut down by council. As far as council was concerned, end of story and end of Thunder in the Valley.
-SJB
So much discussion around who should volunteer and what area you should volunteer...
The people around here are making me not want to volunteer for anything - and I don't mean the Council. The people in general here complain about everything. No matter where you go, complain, complain. We moved for a small town atmosphere. Hope it gets better than this. Here is wishing.
SJB, can you please tell us specifically what ideas/changes were recommended by the Rum Runner Days Committee? Did any of these involve a change of venue for the fireworks? From what I understand, this is something the BFD was not prepared to do. Thanks.
We proposed venue location changes (Hillcrest Ball Diamonds and Sentinel among others). We suggested designated camping and parking areas with a shuttle service (all with nominal pay per user fees - with single user fees, family rates and unlimited day rates). Thus giving us some revenue and eliminating random camping and solving parking issues. Knowing full well that this will take some time to get everyone on board and as Rome was not built in a day, it may take time for everyone to comply with the elimination of random camping. We talked about event fees for the fireworks, also generating some much needed revenue to offset the costs. These are only a few of the many things that we talked about, worked through and proposed to council. If you want to know more or have any questions, the public is always welcome to come and take part. Our meetings have always been open and our information readily available to anyone. Also we are still looking for volunteers to help with Rum Runner Day's.
- SJB
Thanks for the info SJB. It's too bad that some of the suggestions the committee presented were not accepted. They would have addressed a lot of the issues surrounding this event. It's my understanding that the BFD was not in favor of changing the location. Do you know whether this is correct? Also, were they in favor of user fees?
Regarding the random camping, there is never any random camping in most towns. Put a big sign up at all entrances: NO CAMPING ALLOWED IN TOWN LIMITS. Seems very simple to me. I think that is where most of the problems stem from. I think they could still do that for the Rum Runner days. It is a good start. People only do what they are allowed to do.
Safety suddenly an issue in 2012.
According to the Municipal minutes Local detachment head Sgt Scott Howard met with the municipal council on December 21,2010 to express the RCMP's concerns.
Ample time to have cancelled TITV 2011 if safety was a real issue.
SJB:
I appreciate your efforts and frustration, but I think any ideas you came up with could not be workable unless Council developed bylaws on policing, traffic and random camping.
AFAIK, they did nothing. What were they thinking? (Not a rhetorical question - did they really think this issue would go away if they recruited a committee?).
So for those that think people are coming to see our little parade, carnival, petting zoo, car show etc.
When was the last time you made the 40KM trek to Sparwood for Coal Miner Days?
Most comical part of all; it is still going to cost us $58,000 for policing.
Mark
Well, did anyone see the story in the Pass Herald today? Apparently the "Thunder in the Valley" committee has been approached by an interested group to move the 2012 Thunder in the Valley fireworks show to the city of Medicine Hat, on the long weekend in July.
If the committee decides to move this event, then the registered name "Thunder in the Valley" goes with it. As a result Rum Runners Days would no longer be able advertise the event "Thunder in the Valley".
So bye bye forever, Thunder in the Valley. Believe you me, it won't be back next year either. The TITV committee will go where they are appreciated and wanted. If they end up giving away the registered rights to the name, we will never get it back!!
A BIG "thank you" once again goes out to our "wise" council!!!
I am really beginning to hate living here in this, soon to be, police state. Big Brother obviously rules and makes all the decisions for us the ( we must be) uneducated and uninformed people of the Pass. Council must feel that we are soooooo stupid that we will just happily go along with all this crap. They must really think that we want neighbors tattling on neighbors, fines of $2800.00 to get us to comply and ultimately control on all our thoughts and wants. After all council knows what's best for EVERYONE!! Don't worry, you will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.
The BIG question is:
Are we really so complacent? Where are the people who should be standing up to this?? Are they lurking in quiet corners and back rooms, behind computer monitors and keyboards, peeking out nervously from behind their shuttered windows? I hear lots of whispers and talk of dissension, but see no action.
I guess we will just roll over and play dead, because that is exactly what this community will become, if we do nothing.
I am not afraid to stand up to the man!! Is anyone behind me?? Or am I all alone in this?
- Sasha JaegerBaird
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