A6
SEPTEMBER 2013
SCHOOLS:
New minister doesn’t see labour disruptions
www.pgfreepress.com | newsline: 250.564.0005
Name changes, fun stays same Teresa Mallam arts@pgfreepress.com It was smaller, one day shorter and it had less space to work with but organizers are proud of this year’s BCNE, said longtime board member and interim manager Della Bondarchuk. She stepped in to fill a job vacancy left by Angela Cunningham, who resigned in June. Despite its changes and challenges, the fair, held Aug. 8 to 11, went forward and was well-attended, Bondarchuk said. “We are very proud, once again, of our fair. The number of fairgoers was down slightly from 2011 when we had about 38,000 come through the gates. This year we estimate about 35,000 came through, so down a little. And we think that was probably because it was so hot. In 2012 it was our centennial year so the numbers – as we expected – were higher.” A four-day fair continues to be the most viable, she said. “The biggest block [for a five-day fair] was that the midway operated by West Coast Amusements is in southern B.C. just before it comes to us. So they can’t get set up here in time for Wednesday night – the day we wanted to open the fair. We tried it for three years and it didn’t work, so we had to get back to a four-day fair.” And while the BCNE may have literally lost some ground this year, vendors and performers still gave positive feedback, she says. “There were fewer vendors this year – we had 80 – due to the Kin 1 construction [for the 2015 Canada Winter Games] which narrowed our outdoor space. We didn’t have space for stages, so all the acts had to be on one stage. Even though the numbers were down, some vendors still said they did great. Some didn’t feel they did as well as other years and new vendors had nothing to compare it with. Overall, though, the feedback from vendors was very positive.” Teresa MALLAM/Free Press People did miss out on rodeo events this Young riders on the midway at the B.C. Northern Exhibition had a variety of year. responses to the thrills.
“There were huge cuts to gaming grants to all non-profits. This is the third time in four years they’ve cut our funding. We had the equestrian club horses putting on the show as we do every year, that’s a separate thing. In the future, we are hoping to have a regional rodeo division as opposed to going to a national competition which is very expensive to put on. The biggest hit of the BCNE as voted on by children? Hands – or hooves and webbed feet down – the pig and duck races won. “The pigs and ducks were definitely the favourite thing at the BCNE for children. And their second favourite was a sprinkler we put in at the volunteer firefighter’s event to offset the heat. So that’s something that we could expand on next time. Maybe we could have a cool water park-type feature.” Prices of the fair are – fair, says Bondarchuk, considering there have been no major price hikes in midway or entry in recent years. “Entry prices remain the same from last year,” she said. “The one increase was the midway. Armband prices rose from $35 at the fair, $30 in advance to $40 at the fair – but if you bought in advance it was $32.50. So that’s only up a couple of dollars and they haven’t raised the midway rates for years. This year the higher price was basically to cover the higher fuel costs in bringing all the heavy equipment up here.” With another successful fair behind them, it is back to the drawing board in preparation for their first meeting in September to discuss the 2014 BCNE. “We are proud of this year’s fair,” said Bonderchuk. “It’s a huge thing, people come from far and wide for the fair. It started out 100 years ago as a grassroots fair and it still is a grassroots fair. I am just blown away by people’s commitment to the fair, they want its success – for the next 100 years. I am so thankful for the volunteers, sponsors (business and corporations), youth groups and individuals who gave their time and resources. It shows it really is the people’s fair.”
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