Exhibition Company Cancels Hometown Fair
By Robert Thomas
For only the third time in its history the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company has had to cancel the fair and not only is it leaving people disappointed but it’s also a major hit to the city's economy.
“The board met by teleconference on Tuesday evening and unanimously decided to cancel this year's Moose Jaw Hometown Fair,” George Fowler general manager with the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company said. “It was with sadness we had to cancel the fair.”
The only other time the fair has been cancelled was during the ‘Dirty Thirties' and the Great Depression due to drought and lack of money in the community.
The board felt given the timing of the fair in late June with the present COVID - 19 situation in the province and their inability to safely provide two meter safe social distancing requirements this year's fair needed to be cancelled, he said.
“We took a good look at it and there is no way we could safely provide two meter social (physical) distancing in a fair setting with people getting off and on rides and for everyone's safety the board decided to cancel,” he said, adding “you couldn't hold it. It would be impossible to maintain the safe two meter spacing whether it would be in a line-up, getting on or off a ride or in the actual ride itself from people sitting beside or in front or back of you.”
The decision was made by the board after consulting with the Province and West Coast Amusements who operate the midway.
There will be no midway rides this year - MJ Exhibition photo
Asked about the impact on the Exhibition Company's bottom line Fowler said it hurts but they will survive.
Last year's Hometown Fair saw for the first time in 29 years lost due to weather.
Asked about the economic impact on the city Fowler said a study was done a few years ago and the economic impact the Fair had in the local economy was in the $3 million to $3.5 million dollar range.
FOUR DAY FAIR AND MOUNTIES
This year's edition of the Hometown Fair was set to be a four day event running from Thursday to Sunday inclusive with the star free attraction being the world famous RCMP Musical Ride.
“We spoke to West Coast Amusements and we were going to try a four day fair this year to help bring in more people and spread things out in case there was inclement weather,” Fowler told MJ Independent.
Fowler said the move to an expanded fair would hopefully bring more people in plus if there was rain there would be an extra day to hopefully allow everyone the opportunity to attend on a dry day.
To help make it a special year the Exhibition Company had lined up the RCMP's Musical Ride to perform but due to COVID - 19 pandemic concerns the Mounties cancelled in April.
The RCMP's world famous Musical Ride was set to be this year's headline show - source Facebook
“The RCMP had to cancel at the beginning of April but we were still prepared to go ahead with the expanded four day fair…we were still looking at having a four day fair even without the RCMP Musical Ride.”
COVID - 19 IMPACT ON EXHIBITION
The COVID - 19 pandemic has had a major effect on the Exhibition Company's operations with numerous events cancelled.
“All events for April, May and now June have been cancelled and a large number in July as well as a few in August as well,” Fowler said.
Every year the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company holds dozens of events including trade shows, horse events, livestock events, high school graduation suppers, weddings amongst others.
The annual economic impact of the total operations of the Exhibition Company is according to a study done a few years ago between $10 million and $10.5 million.
To put that in perspective Curling Canada estimated the 2020 Scotties held this past February injected $10 million into the local economy.
The goat show is a highly popular event - MJ Independent file photo
People who were boarding horses prior to the pandemic have been allowed to keep their horses there but no new horses are beimg allowed.
“We felt an obligation to look after the horses,” Fowler said.
Social distancing is being maintained in the facilities with “different disciplines typically riding at different times during the day to begin with really helps out.”
There have been no staff cuts with changes made to daily staff starting and ending times as well as numerous buildings where work needs to be done so they can be more easily physically distanced.
“Just changing the hours staff start and end their days helps keep separation.”
Previous to COVID - 19 restrictions all staff started at 8 am but now some staff start at 6 am and 7 am in addition to the regular 8 am start time.
The Exhibition Company is also eligible for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and is using the 75 percent wage subsidy offered by the federal government.
Although it is not required by the CEWS program - except where minimum wage laws apply - the Exhibition Company is paying their employees their full pre-pandemic wage.
“We are topping them up the 25 percent everyone is being fully paid.”
Under the terms of CEWS businesses are not required to pay any more than the 75 percent or minimum wage whichever is greater. The federal government does however ask businesses to pay the additional 25 percent if they are able to do so.
The good news is that despite it cancelling its August provincial finals the Saskatchewan Barrel Racing Association has re-scheduled the event for November.
Last year's event brought in hundreds of competitors with numerous businesses saying it was easy to spot participants in their places of businesses and many restaurants said they were “swamped” because of it.
BURROWING OWLS
COVID - 19 has had a major effect on the Burrowing Owl Centre.
This year's planned May 16th opening and family celebration with bouncy castles and events has been cancelled.
The Centre itself is also closed to the public until further notice.
“We cannot properly social distance and there is a restriction on gatherings over 10 people. Lots of times we have vans pull up with 20 people we just cannot do it safely under the present guidelines.”
The Burrowing Owl Centre made a presentation during budget deliberations - MJ Independent photo
The Burrowing Owl Centre is closed until a later date dependent upon the province phasing in the economy and how many people are allowed to congregate in groups.
POSSIBLE OLD TIME FAIR REPLACEMENT
Fowler said there had been some preliminary talk of holding some type of event around the free horse show the Exhibition holds each September.
The event if it happens could be something like the old time fairs of the Exhibition's past although likely without the Main Street horse drawn buggy races held during the Exhibition's infancy.
“There had been some talk of holding an event and maybe building something around that. But until we know what is happening with the pandemic and how many people will be allowed at gatherings there won’t be a lot of planning right now going into that,’ Fowler said.