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Two-week spring break approved for 2015 Move brings SD62 in line with neighbours
Alberta cowboy Erik Dublanko tosses his lariat toward a young steer during the tie down roping event at a past year’s Luxton Pro Rodeo. The rodeo, scheduled for the long weekend in May in Langford, is in the spotlight ahead of schedule due to animal rights advocates’ concerns over business sponsorships of the annual event.
Kyle Wells News staff
“It’s a business decision … I just don’t need that aggravation.” The Humane Society website also lists Langford Fountain Tire, My-Chosen Cafe, Cloverdale Paint and 100.3 the Q among other businesses no longer supporting the rodeo. This year’s Luxton Pro Rodeo happens May 17, 18 and 19 at the Luxton Fairgrounds on Marwood Avenue in Langford. Local organizers of the spring event would not comment on the sponsorship issue.
Students in School District 62 will have double the fun next spring as the district switches to a two-week spring break. The decision to schedule the break for March 9 to 20 in 2015 was made official last week at the March 25 school board meeting. Board chair Wendy Hobbs said trustees received a considerable amount of feedback from parents, students, staff and others. Surveys showed opinions on the change were split almost evenly. “Obviously with a decision like this we’ve had … a couple of emails from people not happy about it,” Hobbs said. “When you’re making a decision for almost 9,000 students, you know that you’re not going to make everybody happy.” To make up the time, both for students to learn and teachers to earn, eight minutes will be added to each school day.
Please see: Rodeo sponsors, Page A5
Please see: Spring break, Page A5
Photo by Sharon Tiffin
Rodeo debate out of the gate early Attention turns to sponsorship in event’s program Kyle Wells News staff
Debate over the treatment of animals at the Luxton Pro Rodeo is heating up, with attention now turning to Greater Victoria businesses that sponsor the event. The Vancouver Humane Society has revealed that 10 of last year’s business sponsors of the rodeo have contacted the group to say
they’ve pulled their support for 2014. Meanwhile, other sponsors are accusing anti-rodeo groups and their supporters of aggressive campaigning. Lynne Hedstrom, owner of Lynne’s Little Elf Garden Centre in Langford, is among those who have decided to stop sponsoring the event for 2014. The decision, she said, was purely business. “I’m not really against it, to be honest with you, I just cannot afford to lose another customer,” she said. Before the 2013 rodeo, Hedstrom said, she received many emails and letters from people saying
they would not shop in her store because of her sponsorship. “I got people that said they had shopped in my garden centre for years and absolutely refused to spend another dime in my store. So that’s tough. I had to make a decision, so I’m not going to support them this year, which is the first time in 36 years.” Since making the decision to pull her sponsorship, she said, at least three people have emailed her to say they’ll go back to shopping at her store. Hedstrom said she felt intimidated by the boycotts and emails, but wouldn’t go so far as to say she was bullied or harassed.
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