BOWDEN - No activities were planned in Bowden to celebrate Canada Day this year. Instead, fireworks will be held in Bowden's Centennial Park to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Bowden Bonanza Daze Rodeo, which takes place July 28-30 this year.
BOWDEN - No activities were planned in Bowden to celebrate Canada Day this year.
Instead, fireworks will be held in Bowden's Centennial Park to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Bowden Bonanza Daze Rodeo, which takes place July 28-30 this year.
Town councillors ratified that decision during their June 26 meeting. Some said Bowden residents are just as likely to attend Canada Day celebrations in Olds or Innisfail instead.
Mayor Robb Stuart raised the issue. He expressed surprise at that decision because this Canada Day is an extra special one -- it's the country's 150th birthday.
Coun. Sandy Gamble said the town's recreation board made that decision because only about 20 people attended last year's celebrations.
"They went to all that work getting all that food and nobody shows up," Gamble said. Council passed her motion to have the fireworks moved to Bowden Daze.
Coun. Sheila Church said more people than that attended the fireworks themselves.
Gamble conceded that might be true, but nonetheless, the turnout is discouraging for those who plan Canada Day activities.
"If you're going to go to all the work and nobody's going to show up or ever try to help, people get tired of it," she said.
Stuart said he could understand that, but he said council should make the final decision – not hear about it via the recreation board.
Also, noting the plan is to stage the fireworks at Bowden Daze, he said the proper chain of communication is for that decision to go from council to the Ag Society, which organizes the rodeo.
"I'm just saying I don't think it reflects good on us as a council that things are going on without us at least being aware of them and – as I say, I'm not trying to say we should control it, but we have to have that communication in and out," Stuart said.
Church expressed surprise that the fireworks would be held in conjunction with Bowden Daze because that could scare the horses. Gamble said that's why they'll be set off in Centennial Park, well away from the rodeo grounds.
Stuart sympathized with the fact organizers feel burned out and discouraged by low attendance at the event. He suggested in the future, council may have to look at assigning town employees the job of organizing Canada Day celebrations and other such activities.
"If you're going to go to all the work and nobody's going to show up or ever try to help, people get tired of it." COUN. SANDY GAMBLE
