COCHRANE— Hosting a slew of competitors hoping to conquer the throne, the Cochrane Outhouse Races are back for another year of epic showdowns.
This year the organizers of the Outhouse Races, taking place on Aug. 29, have passed the crown to The Young Professionals Rotary Club of Cochrane.
“We’re really excited,” said Young Professionals chair Ryan Baum. “It’s nice because now there are 23 members and we’re just excited to do stuff that gives back to the community and helps out.”
The Outhouse Races mark the first opportunity the Young Professionals have had to host a COVID-19 health measure free public event for the community. They previously hosted two drive-in movie events in 2020 as a fundraiser for the Cochrane Food Bank.
“We established the group to connect, cultivate and grow … Fortunately for us we were able to do some good things for the community last year and we hope to do the same thing this year with events like the Outhouse Races and raise funds we can give back to the community,” Baum said.
The Young Professionals are planning to build on the momentum of the Outhouse Races and create a lasting legacy in the community. Baum said the goal is to keep things as is given the strong foundation in place for the races.
“If the wheels are not broken, don’t change them,” Baum said with a laugh.
This year the Outhouse Races will raise money for the Young Professionals Club, who in turn will use the cash to support community organizations. In 2020 the Young Professionals committed to raising money for the Cochrane Food Bank and found success raising $60,000 for the organization.
“We want to give back to our local community. We are working to find associations and people in need. All the money raised at this event will go back to the community in some capacity,” Baum said.
Baum is a veteran of the Outhouse Races, competing in about three or four races in total. Based on his experience, he said, success at the races comes down to the design of the cart and striving to reach the highest achievable speed in the safest way possible.
He added it is fun seeing the machines each team creates as there is a speed and style component to designs.
“We’re excited to take it on and hope to see everybody out there,” Baum said.
The event is open to any team looking to participate. Registration and fee information will soon be available.
Local philanthropist Dan Kroffat has played a key role in ensuring the Outhouse Races have continued to roll.
Kroffat has been helping to organize the races for around seven years and is excited to see the Young Professionals take up the mantle.
"My work in the community has been fulfilling. I’ve been excited about what I’ve been able to do in previous years,” Kroffat said. “I think it’s appropriate to pass the baton to a wonderful group like the Young Professionals. I believe they will carry this forward and do a wonderful job.”
He praised Karrie Peace, owner of the Heavenly Outhouse Boutique, for her success in helping run the community event for the past ten years. Peace will be acknowledged with a citizenship award on the day of the races.
“I think the town is ready for an uplifting event,” Kroffat said. “It’s going to be one of the biggest events of the year.”
He added he is especially excited to see celebrity emcees veteran CFL player Jon Cornish and Global TV weatherman Paul Dunphy sign on to host the races.
Kroffat said they decided to move forward with the Outhouse Races given the end of COVID-19 public health restrictions in Alberta and the Calgary Stampede taking place. He noted they are working closely with Alberta Health Services to ensure the event is safe.
As part of these safety measures, Outhouses must qualify through an inspection before they can enter the races.
Mayor Jeff Genung said he is looking forward to racing down main street, capturing the western flair of Cochrane while showcasing the Historic Downtown during the Outhouse Races.
“It’s a kooky and fun way of expressing our western heritage and racing one and other for a good cause,” Genung said.
The timing for the event is perfect because it can serve as a test for public events in Cochrane, while giving organizers time to learn and adapt based on the Calgary Stampede. He is hopeful to see it go full steam ahead so they can create the biggest race to date.
Teams are hard at work creating an outhouse taking into account multiple factors, he said. Genung expects some teams will go for speed to win the race, while others will embrace making creative and memorable designs.
The racing of the outhouses is based on the Chuckwagon races at the Calgary Stampede. During the race, one person must be sitting in the outhouse while four people push the throne to the finish line as fast as they can. To complicate matters the outhouse is required to be in working order and must have toilet paper and a seat.
Genung added he is especially psyched for this year's Mayor’s Challenge and has been “dropping the gauntlet” letting his fellow mayors know this year he means businesses at the races.
The Outhouse Races offer the perfect opportunity to settle municipal rivalries on the streets of Cochrane, he said, and he is hoping to see six other mayors compete.
For his last Outhouse Race, Genung collaborated with Cochrane based 4iiiis to design and build his machine.
“It was designed to win,” Genung said with a laugh. He added he will be embracing a similar competitive edge for this year's event and in the midst of designing a powerful privy for the upcoming race.
While it is fun racing to the finish line, he said, more importantly, the Outhouse Races support a good cause.
“I’m super pumped. It’s so awesome to be back in-person talking about events, getting people back together and celebrating our community again,” Genung said.
