Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Thunder in the valley-It was great while it lasted

Well after a unanimous vote (except for Councilor Saindon who declined to vote), council has decided to defer Thunder in the Valley. Which in laymen terms means it isn't happening this year.
I have had my differences with some people over this issue but there was never a question on my part about the economic impact of this event on this community.
It would take more than both my hands and all my toes to count the number of times I have had business people say to me this is the one weekend of the year I make decent money in this community.

Will Thunder in the Valley be back? You tell me.

Here is my opinion of what happened (I may be wrong but you don't have to agree with me).
I believe that some of the local politicians had no intention of carrying on with Thunder In the Valley. I was telling people last summer that this would be the last year. But knowing politicians they seldom want to take the heat for their decisions. So what do politicians do, you try to find a way to blame somebody else so Council came forth with a plan prior to Christmas (even though one of their own administrators told them last night that a event of this size should be planned a year and half in advance). To strike up a committee to run the Rum runner days/Thunder in the Valley weekend. Well we all know what a hot potato this issue as been over the years. I believe at that point council anticipated that the firemen would get pissed off and tell them to stick Thunder up their rear end. Well the firemen figured that one out and real quickly threw it back in council's lap. So now what to do? well you have to find good reasons to cancel it so lets aim for two hot button issues "safety and cost". The number being thrown around last night was anywhere from $70,000 to $150,000 for additional costs for thunder in the valley. Why such a large spread in the numbers? because they weren't  really sure. Are those costs justified? well lets be honest you can generate any number you want . Depending on what you ask for, if you want nobody parking in Blairmore and everybody bussed in $$$$ if you want to put a fence along the CPR tracks $$$$ if you want traffic controlled by Peace Officers instead of volunteers $$$$, an RCMP member on every street corner $$$$ and so on and so on.
Think of it has a buying a vehicle if you want to show up to work in a big diesel  4x4 all chromed up with leather seats, or you are just looking for a small safe efficient car that will get you to work and home every day the costs are going to be so different.
Safety is that an issue well it depends on what criteria you look at are there a certain numbers of twits in every crowd? no question, has that been better enforced over the years you bet 4 years ago we had 50 people in jail Saturday night last year I think we had 15 the whole weekend. Traffic I'm told that the flow of traffic has improved every year maybe people aren't telling me the truth. Could things be done better? always.
Will some people be glad it's gone? you bet.
Interesting I remember talking to an individual a couple of years back that said they would never shop at Fields ran into the guy on the weekend he can't believe that we are losing another business.

Clarification: I was just called and asked by a reader to clarify that Rum Runner Days is still scheduled to go ahead. It is only Thunder in the Valley that was cancelled by council. 

56 comments:

Tom said...

Another dark day in the CNP. It is time for the Chamber of Commerce to stand up for the business people of the Pass. This weekend put the CNP on the map.Job well done council. Lets see if the newspapers have the balls to go after council on this one. I think not. And that is the way I see it.

Anonymous said...

First the mines switch to a 4x4 crew crippling the Pass and Valley small businesses by creating a transient population that puts little money back into the communities. Then the Pass lumber mill is sold and moved causing more economic hardship to the Pass and now this. I've said it many times and I will again. If the Pass wants to survive it needs to put a moritoriam on building like Banff and focus completely on tourism. Otherwise this place will become another ghost town on the map. "Defering" Thunder is just proof that town council doesn't get the direction the Pass needs to go to survive.

Anonymous said...

bye bye Pass, it was nice knowing you.

Anonymous said...

No more syringes & broken beer bottles in my yard, am I sad?

Anonymous said...

What the hell happened here Dean?
Did the costs really go up that much?
Were they inflated?
What is next?
Almost seems ironic that on the same night they kill Thunder in the Valley. They are debating a fireworks bylaw!!!

Anonymous said...

Wow, Love it or hate it it had to stay.Other communities would do just about anything to have an event this large.I agree this event put the CNP on the map.In comparison, this would be like Calgary ending the Stampede.I also do not see how you can restart this event in future years,what took many years to build is now finished with a quick 6-0 vote.I find it hard to imagine that this is fair representation of the community at large. We have a council that is doing what they want and not what the people want.

Anonymous said...

Was in Walmart yesterday and found this book "getting elected to municipal council and becoming the power" felt this really fit in the Pass

Chapter 1 To Do List
One year prior to election.
1. Get friendly with local media types have them slam existing council at every opportunity create the right atmosphere for change.
2. Hang around local watering holes convince everybody that change needs to happen soon. The community could do so much better.

Two months prior to election.
1. Offer yourself up has a candidate, you will be the catalyst for change.
2. Start the promises, affordable housing, bring in business, turn around the economy, build an Indoor recreation facility, No tax increases.

Election Day
1. Get elected go to local watering holes celebrate with friends. Cherish all the wonderful things that are going to happen.

After election
1. First budget whoops taxes go up blame the province.
2. Need to make changes bring in consultants.
3. Streamline the organization reduce departments bring in more administrators.
4. Make small changes target small groups to reduce reaction.
5. Kill a library, or maybe a town shop nobody will care.
6. Appetite for more power is only growing need to put a prominent local group under your thumb
7. Don't want to do it yourself avoid the heat. Use consultants to provide financial and safety (people get caught up in that kind of stuff) reasons to beat them down.
8. Feeling really strong now take on local CUPE union great PR move.
9. Loving the power hire community peace officers turn municipality into police state.


Next election.
1. Tell public never realized things were so bad.
2. We had to raise taxes, hire more administration.
3. The hotel is coming, the indoor recreation facility is coming.
4. The economy was on the right path until the crisis in Greece.
5. Create great excitement amongst supporters be proud we changed every policy, procedure and bylaw in the last three years.
5. Just need three more years good things are coming.

Sound familiar you should try the book. LOL

Sue

Anonymous said...

Useless town. What thought process ruled this one out, huge revenue weekend not to mention probably the only reason tourists come to this town.

Anonymous said...

A lot of people in the pass react negatively to everything that happens. And they exaggerate everything to suit themselves.

Anonymous said...

Talk about exaggeration $200,000 for Thunder in the Valley what a crock.
Does anybody have any idea what we have spent on consultants.

Anne

Anonymous said...

Good thing we had that task force telling us what we need to do.Read the report then do the opposite.What a joke.

Anonymous said...

Dean why didn't Saindon vote?

Anonymous said...

well at least the vote wasn't 4 - 3

Anonymous said...

No more dog kennel bills,
no more glass on our street and bottles on my yard,
no more people lighting fireworks in our backyard,
no more protecting my house like a fortress.

Anonymous said...

This is one of the weakest councils we have had here in a very long time. As the community is shutting down all around them, they will find an excuse that explains all of it away. None of it has to do with their hard working efforts. Life is so unfair, they are working so hard and the results are not what they want. If only others would get on with the program, all will be well. All they need to do is to hire a few more administrators to get things right, and the economy will turn around. Why the people here are so unfair and negative? The council is there to supervise the mayor and the administration, and not the other way around. It is embarrassing to see how the tail is wagging the dog.

Anonymous said...

Well, good luck finding a hotel chain to buy the old hospital site now. The one weekend they might sell-out is done with.

Bye bye Pass, nice knowing you.

Anonymous said...

I have been hearing that everything is Council's fault for many many years. You are the people that vote them in and will have a chance to replace them. But, will you. Too much interbreeding and relatives and friends and bla bla bla in the pass to do a good job. There are still a lot of businesses here. It is only a small town, not Calgary. How many would you like? And Field's closing has nothing to do with the pass, it is everywhere in Canada. Can't really bring that into the picture.

Anonymous said...

I do believe the Pass could have a great opportunity to expand on tourism. My goodness, going by Blairmore you would never know there is a ski hill unless you saw it. I think tourism would be a lot better than business actually. A lot of places thrive quite well on tourism. It just needs to be advertised; especially in Alberta where people can drive to great skiing, snowmobiling, etc. We need to push the council more; trust me they do not have to worry about money or pensions anymore!

Anonymous said...

Tourism is the buzz word, not business. We are not big enough to support a lot of business, but we are certainly big enough to advertise all the things like skiing, etc. that we have here. No signs on the highway advertising anything. Why does the council not want to advertise? Can't figure it out.

Anonymous said...

Yes, and how does a councillor like Saindon refrain from voting. Isn't that what he was elected for?

Anonymous said...

On the Saturday night instead of lousy boring fireworks.
We could have a policy writing championship.
From all across North America we would attract CAOs, and various other levels of administrators.
You would not have to worry about extra police. Maybe a few Community Peace Officers for later in the night. Say around 8-9 o'clock when it gets a little wild after they have consumed a few junks of ice tea and they start snapping pencils.
It could have some real potential to be ugly.

Anonymous said...

Can't believe this community's future hangs on a 20 minute fire work show.

Anonymous said...

You know what some of you people in the Crowsnest Pass I feel bad for.
Most of you I don't.
I have only lived here for a short time but I have learnt a lot.
18 months ago I heard: "We need change", "can this new council be any worse than the last", "finally we have well educated people running our town".
Well you know what you voted for "change" and you got it. Live with it until 2013, then you will have more people stand up and say we need change, we will bring new business, new recreation facilities, no tax increases.
Saddest part of all a lot of you will fall for it just like you did in 2010.

JS

Anonymous said...

Syringes? Seriously? Are you 90? Your towns are dying. There is no industry. There are no jobs. For one weekend a year, tens of thousands of people come to the pass and see the beauty. I have for 5 years. Never miss. There are idiots in every crowd. But the tens of thousands of people come for Thunder. Not your festival celebrating a shootout a bootlegger had with some mounties a hundred years ago. Businesses need the tourism industry to survive. Otherwise, it may just has well have been Blairmore and Coleman under a mountain. But maybe you can build tourism around the ghost towns...

Anonymous said...

In the distance do you hear the sound of Councillors waffling?

peter rosner said...

I personally feel that JS 3.28 phrased it best you people voted for change isnt it ironic the same people who were part of the countdown to change the last council are crying now. Local media types and some busineese were behind that change looks like it backfired. TOO F$#%@ING BAD

Jose said...

The Major said during his election Townhouse meetings that he wanted to gut the Fire Depts and unify them. The Head Consultant was a Fire Chief before. The fix was in before the election.

Then there was talk about the finances and income from the Thunder in the Valley show, and why the money and profits stayed within the Fire Dept or Committee, with no sharing with the Municipality. Do you really wonder why there was no Agreement after the election -- There never was any intention for one.

With the present Bylaw review and the inevitable introduction of never-ending Regulations, there will likely never be another Thunder in the Valley event. Part of the plan. We are a "town" of 5,000 being administered (and charged) like one with 50,000 or 150,000 people. Consultants care less as long as they are paid and get entrenched into our everyday management. No way out now.

Jose

Anonymous said...

Peter so well said.

Anonymous said...

Peter is right, we voted for this council so we have to live with our own actions until the next election. I guess some of us were momentarily blinded by credentials. It just goes to show us that education and common sense are not all and the same.

Anonymous said...

Yes, we too moved here a year ago and love living in the Pass. We love living here. It is what you make it, like anywhere. There are issues no matter where you live - in regards to council spending money like drunken sailers and not caring what people want. I don't think that will ever change. That is the way most people live nowadays - for their own benefit.

Anonymous said...

Well I won't be visiting the Crowsnest pass this year. Take away our one planned family getaway - I definitely will choose another destination to spend our money. Been a slice. VERY disappointed. - a Lethbridgian

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness. Someone says they will cancel their trip from Lethbridge to the Pass because of the fireworks. Must be BIG SPENDERS HUH.

Anonymous said...

anon 9:17 I agree with you except the part that we have to wait until the next election to get some thing changed.It is simple folks, get on your phones and tell these councilors that you disagree with there decisions.Do not let them off the hook so easily.Do not buy there excuses about money for the event as they have no problems spending money on consultants and hiring more administrative positions.Do not buy their excuses about safety reasons.There are events all over the place that are way bigger than this, should they be cancelled?A flames game has 20,000 people, lots of them drinking and partying and if something got out of control security would not be able to handle it.Should all large sporting events and rock concerts be cancelled for the same reason?If you do not like their decisions give them a call.

Anonymous said...

That is such a poor attitude. I've been there nearly every year that thunder has gone on. It improves every single, with the way it is ran. There are morons in every single crowd, and with that many people, of course there are a few bumps. But for one weekend a year tens of thousands of people come to your beautiful pass and learn to love it as you do. With their familys, with friends. As I have with my children. Not for Rum. Runner days. For camping, companionship. Building up to saturday night. I believe this is a mistake. Your turning yourselves back in to a gas station and a Tims on the side of the highway. Good luck

Anonymous said...

Despite the severe financial concerns involved with operating Thunder in the Valley.
My girlfriend tells me that there is another Administrator starting in the office next week.
Are we missing something here people?

Crowsnest Pass Home said...

Was in Blairmore at noon hour.
Saw the rally at the Gazebo
I would say there was between 15-20 demonstrators showed up.
Plus Global, CTV and our local papers.
In addition Councilor Gail also made an appearance, I could see him engaged in a spirited debate with some of the demonstrators.
(Kudos for facing the group)

Anonymous said...

It has nothing to do with spending. I come out there every year and spend enough in blairmore and coleman and bellvue to fly to mexico for 2 weeks. People come for the hundreds of other families camping, for the fun, the fireworks. Nobody will come now. For the first time in 6 years I won't be either. Not just for a 20 minute firework show being cancelled. Because for no apparent reason they destroyed something people love. I can camp and quad somewhere else, because out of towners obviously aren't welcome there.

Anonymous said...

Dean,

This whole Thunder In The Valley issue has been bothering me for a while and I appreciate the opportunity to express my views on your blog.

As a business owner in Crowsnest Pass, I believe I'll benefit more as a result of there not being any fireworks this year. In the past, many of our regular customers have avoided coming to the Pass that weekend, simply because of the number of people and all the chaos they would have to put up with. I'll admit, some of the folks who come to see the fireworks stop in to visit our business, but they are mainly tire-kickers, killing time prior to the evening show. I know I'm not the only business around here where this happens. Then, there are other stores who have to bring in additional staff, not because of increased sales, but because of increased shoplifting.

Let's face it, Thunder In The Valley has become a weekend where we allow people to come to our community and become intoxicated in public, random camp right in the middle of town, build raging campfires and party all night, use someone's bushes in their front yard as a latrine, and when the show's over, leave without cleaning up their mess. Don’t get me wrong, the majority of people visiting the Pass for Thunder are well behaved, but it’s come to the point where plenty of residents have had enough of the ones who don’t. What would happen to these people if they tried doing this stuff in another community, such as Calgary, during Stampede week, or Lethbridge during Whoop-Up Days? How about Pincher Creek or Fort Macleod, during their summer celebrations? The real question, though, is: Why are we different from other places? Is it our "Mountain Freedom" mentality we're so famous for? In the past, I’ve read comments on this blog by people saying things to the effect of, “It's only one weekend of the summer,” and “We should put up with these minor inconveniences.” I wonder how many of these comments were made by a resident of Crowsnest Pass who has had someone relieve themselves on their front lawn, or discovered a group of people that have set up camp on their property, without permission?

In regards to business’, certainly, there are ones that benefit, but not as many as we are led to believe. And at what cost? It should be noted that some of the business' benefiting the most may also be some of the ones supplying some of the goods that are at the root of some of the problems we're having. I’m not against these business', and I don’t compete with them. However, we have to look at who is benefiting from this event and ask if what we are doing is best for the community as a whole? Maybe it is. This is an important question we need answered, because our tax dollars are on the line. It doesn’t matter what the amount is, whether it’s one thousand, ten thousand or one-hundred thousand dollars, it's our tax dollars at stake. After the crowd leaves, it's the entire community that's left holding the bag. Unlike what some might like us to think, it may not be a bag full of money, either.

I realize all this sounds like I'm in favour of council's decision not to hold the fireworks this year. Not true, I have actually supported Thunder In The Valley from the beginning. I remember the first few fireworks displays. They were much smaller and attracted fewer people. It was more of a community/family event. Back then, there were very few problems, compared to what we're currently experiencing. As a resident of the Pass, and a taxpayer, I'm tired of the problems this event has created. In order for Thunder to continue, there has to be significant changes made. Until this happens, I believe council is making the right decision. Good for them.

BTW ... during the last election, I voted for only a couple of the current members of council. Next election, should any of them decide to run, I'll likely vote for more of them.

Anonymous said...

Edmonton's 'iconic' waterfall on the brink
Mar 7, 2012

"A city council committee debated Wednesday whether to shut it down in face of city environmental policies and a maximum $700,000 repair bill."

In proportion to population, that would be like $4000 for CNP.

Anonymous said...

Regarding this comment:

Anonymous said...
Edmonton's 'iconic' waterfall on the brink
Mar 7, 2012

"A city council committee debated Wednesday whether to shut it down in face of city environmental policies and a maximum $700,000 repair bill."

In proportion to population, that would be like $4000 for CNP.

I do not understand it. And what it means in regards to the Pass.

Anonymous said...

I have to chuckle at the comments left by people who are not from the area.The ones who live in the area I completely understand why this event needed to be shelved.I have attended this event a few times over the years and have seen a progressive problem. I remember the 10th celebration quite clearly. Walking around in the crowd and seeing stuff that would curl your toes. Yeah family event Ill say. Drunk drivers speeding down hills playing bumper cars and then smashing into cars on the highway. 3 or 4 hour waits just to get home 10 mins away,Drugs oh man the drugs in the crowd was unbelievable,people defecating wherever they pleased,people getting into fights pulling knives,people puking all over the place,tresspassing,people stealing other peoples property, shoplifting in stores,people littering because they are to lazy to clean up thier own mess (which seems to be the norm for people nowadays). For all of you who come for the 20 minutes of fun and leaving a community to clean up the wrecking ball you left behind it aint no picknick. That falls on our shoulders everytime this event has happened. The aftermath is unbelievable.Imagine all the stuff that is left unreported???It would be a matter of time and I am very surprised that no one has been killed at one of these events yet. Cops cant be everywhere and it would have been a matter of time.To the firefighters you have done a standup job for this event but when do you say enough is enough.Money isnt everything and safety is especially if someone were to be killed.As for the council i have given up on local politics years ago. This town is destined by way of the doe doe from the past councils lack of listening to its people. The current, well it needs work.I quite going to these events yeras ago because of how it it ballooned from a family day event into a balloned out of control gong show. That weekend I stay home because this area is cannot administratively control this event properly and never has.The area likes to say it does but just from a simple walk around down in the grounds that night shows you just how "controlled it is".LIke I said a gong show.

Anonymous said...

The uncontrolled crowds that attend Thunder in the Valley do indeed create a gong show. So cancel the fireworks.

I grew up in corporate business and if there was a problem, we found a way to fix it. The best problems were those that were well defined. You didn't get your next promotion by reporting "Yup, there's a problem." You FOUND A SOLUTION.

Unruly crowds creating a mess and disturbance in a residential area? ...move the venue. ...bring more security and bring paddy wagons. Danger from trains? ...move the venue. Liability? ...define it and get insurance.

Attendees should pay, both locals and visitors. If no one comes, then there is a real good reason to cancel the event. The BFD brings in lots of cash to put the event on; should part of the take go for logistics (cops and cleanup)?

If we love the fireworks for itself, could we do it on a week night just for locals and visitors who are really motivated? Separate it from Rum Runner celebrations entirely.

My point is that the organizers should not just walk away from a task that is difficult. That is what the mayor and council and the committee seem to have defaulted to.

We have two P.Eng. on council ...they learn project management at university. We have a Ph.D. in
policy studies as mayor. Is there anyone there who can define what needs to be done, set a timeline, and mobilize to do it?

Anonymous said...

The only people we seem to lack on council are politicians. It's administrators running administrators. Someone wanted a sense of proportion. Imagine if the city council in Edmonton decided to cancel the Klondike Days and the mayor was not available for comment on the next day. Ha.

Anonymous said...

anon 7:36 That is the most exageratted statement I have read.If the problems were as bad as you say they are the people would not show up.I also have been to the show many times.I never seen 1 fight never mind a knife. I seen a few people who had too much drink and I also smelled some soft drugs in the area.I have never seen anybody urinating anywhere. I know there is a mess afterwards but that is to be expected.I also seen a very large crowd enjoy the show and leave calmly and wait in there cars with no major problems.I know there are problems but they are not nearly big enough to cancel the show.

Anonymous said...

Why the RCMP helicopter hovering overheard then?

Jason Greensmith said...

Anon @ 06:32:00

Actually, I have to agree with Anons @ Mar 08, 02:58:00 PM and Anon @ Mar 09, 07:36:00 AM

Thunder in the Valley is a gongshow that is overcrowded, under-enforced and poses little benefit vs. burden to the community. For the exact reasons mentioned to axe Thunder in the Valley are reasons I don't own a house anywhere near there. I have personally witnessed the urination and littering of private property, the vandalism and the usage of recreational drugs. Try to find a police officer when you need one? HAH! Usually when you do the culprits are long gone.
We're trying to promote the CNP as a friendly community for young families. That's moving ahead, right? How can we promote ourselves in such a way when we host an event that involves a bunch of grownups and teenagers getting drunk and high, and hooting and hollering and carrying on like a mob of....well....drunks?
The only benefit I see to this event is the provincial revenue generated from liquor fines.
Kudos to the volunteers that organized this event in the past, however, it has proven it has no positive merit to the community.

JS

Anonymous said...

Anon 6:32 you are a naive person. Take a walk around everywhere, not just the one area as you obviously were doing.

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.

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....

Anonymous said...

The reason most did not volunteer is, because most knew this would be the outcome. All we need is a booth at each entrance, $10.00 x 30,000 guests =$300.000. That is enough to buy our safety. Then lets really go wild and consider charging for camping, maybe do our own 50/50.

If the firemen do not think they need to share their books, or any of the responsibility, get someone else to do the fireworks. Most places would love to have what we have as their starting point.
Fasten your seat belt Crowsnesters.

Kevin Cox said...

I have been coming to the CNP for over 25 years. 10 years ago I bought what was to be a weekender home.After several years of falling in love with this area and its people I purchased an existing business and along with my staff and partner created a vibrant pub known as the Rum Runner.Every person I spoke to about this project thought I was crazy (most of all my banker). But I believe in this community and in July convinced my company to open a branch of Belfor Restoration here.I have become alarmed at the lack of touch this council has with its community.If i still owned a hospitality or retail business in this town I would ask Mr. De Crook to subsidize my losses.I have employed over 100 people in this town and know the challenges and hardships here. The answer is not to keep hammering us with cost of living increases but show the billions of dollars in Alberta investment dollars this is a wonderfull place to invest. P.S Kudos to the amazing volunteer firemen that have put this place on the map.

Anonymous said...

If the businesses in the pass depend on one weekend a year, there is another problem. Your comment asking the writer if they are 90, has nothing to do with syringes and liquor bottles when it is a fact. Before you comment, think first. You obviously live in Coleman or Bellevue where thunder in the valley doesn't directly affect you. Let me add one more thing. If things went sideways and a riot ensued, and Blairmore was destroyed, would you still comment and support titv. Let me answer for you,"no you wouldn't"!

Anonymous said...

See yah!!!!

Anonymous said...

Totally agree. Good on ya!

Anonymous said...

Let me see. You didn't see it, so it is not a problem. Typical. Think before you write.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Lethbridge... It does not matter how FAR you travelled to take in such a great event.. that's just geography... I am from the CNP and so is my entire family... This has been our one weekend out of the year that we are faithfully gathered. I travel from Glenwood... Does that make my dollar less because I travelled a short distance to spend it??? I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to those who built it up to be one the summer's highlights for many people and their families. Cudos to the Thunder in the Valley Committee who's hard work put the CNP on the map. Thank you and I am truly disappointed.