Morinville Festival Society members Julie Booth, Korien Sampson and Kat Spencer present to Council Mar. 15. – Lucie Roy Photo
by Lucie Roy
Morinville Festival Society (MFS) President Korien Sampson and Society members Julie Booth and Kat Spencer made an informational presentation to the Town Council during their Mar. 15 committee meeting about growing the Logger Sports component of the annual summer festival.
The main discussion revolved around the placement, or not, of climbing poles for the Festival Society’s two-day Logger Sports event at this year’s St. Jean Baptiste Festival.
The Society has received a $10,000 sponsorship to place two climbing poles installed for a minimum of three years, but the placement remains in the air because the current festival site is also the current proposed site for the future home of the new public school.
“Because of the uncertainty of all sites, Administration has asked the MFS if there is an alternative temporary location,” said David Schaefer, Town of Morinville, Director of Community and Protective Services. “Because at this time, we don’t believe there is a site that would be three to five years, and the investment of $10,000, which is significant, may be lost.
“Because there are alternative sites to look at, but there is a lot of work that still has to be done in order to consider that site. The whole layout of the school at this point is really undetermined and what that is going to do. So any place for this type of structure is something Administration has expressed concerns and feels it is unlikely for this year. There are too many unanswered questions.”
Mayor Holmes said it is not so much a question of where the climbing poles are going to go. For her, the real question is whether or not the town wants Council to support a long-term, permanent Logger Sports event in the community.
“Maybe not this year, but eventually, a permanent site that has all the pieces is what you are asking for,” she said, adding the event is still just one year in. The mayor went on to say she would like to see the Society bring in the log rolling pool as an additional event to build support for the sport rather than try to do the entire offering all at once.
Morinville’s St. Jean Baptiste Festival takes place June 24 to 26, 2016. The Logger Sports competition is set for June 25 and 26.
