COCHRANE— Throwing their support behind the Lions Club Labour Day Rodeo, Cochrane Council approved up to $20,000 in funds for the event, provided COVID-19 public health measures are eased.
Lions Club Rodeo Chairman Kevin Firkus came before council on Monday (July 14) to request funds to cover the potential shortfall the rodeo will be facing if COVID-19 public health measures are lifted and the event can place.
To ensure the Labour Day Rodeo can kick up the dust if recommendations are eased, Council granted up to $20,000 to the Lions using Town of Cochrane operations reserves. The funding will be contingent on if the event can move forward.
If the rodeo takes place it will be the 54th annual event.
Firkus said for the rodeo to be remotely financially viable it would need to see at least 500 to 1,000 people attend the event, and cost reductions would need to be found.
If the current group gathering restrictions put in place by Alberta Public Health are not eased the event can be cancelled at no cost, Firkus said, as long as it is done so by around August 20.
“There’s no money going out until that time so we do have that little bit of a cushion to be able to decide a yes or no,” Firkus said. “If it is not an amount of people that makes it viable we won’t be having it.”
The Lions Club is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and Alberta Health Services guidelines and recommendations to ensure they act in the best interests of guests, volunteers and contestants, he said.
“We are very conscious about that, that’s been in a lot of our conversations,” Firkus said. “If one thing goes wrong it’s not worth the gain as far as we’re concerned.”
Mayor Jeff Genung said he appreciated the cautious approach the Lions are taking to hosting the event and the emphasis that has been placed on public safety.
“We want to do this with a balance of public safety but also honoring our past and our history and our heritage,” Genung said. “The Lions Labour Day Rodeo is an iconic event for Cochrane.”
He added that the council also needs to be respectful of the “purse strings” as COVID-19 has impacted the Town's 2020 budget.
The request was complicated, he added because the Rodeo takes place before Council meets again in September— Meaning the funding needed to be approved at the Monday council meeting.
He added that he appreciated the support Council was able to show for the Lions.
"They got a shot in the arm saying, 'We care about what we do. We care about your organization. If it at all possible go make this happen,'" Genung said.
Firkus added that the Labour Day Rodeo has received some guidance from a member of the Calgary Stampede board to understand the health and safety regulations that can be put in place to help mitigate the risk of hosting the event.
The Lions had originally requested financial support to the tune of up to $45,000, but this cost was based on a traditional four-day event.
Firkus explained that if the Labour Day Rodeo is given the green light by the province it will be a different experience— It will likely be compressed into a one or two-day event to reduce costs.
A survey was sent out to sponsors of the event exploring the impact of COVID-19 and if they would be able to support the rodeo. Firkus said 60 per cent returned the survey and all indicated they could provide their full sponsorship.
Firkus highlighted the impact the Labour Day Rodeo has on the Town of Cochrane’s economy citing a study conducted seven years ago by the Lions that indicated the event was able to generate about $1.2 million for the Town.
Councillor Morgan Nagel said supporting the rodeo was not a question of finances because it is the most iconic event of the year, but questioned if the event would be feasible given the current COVID-19 public health protocols limiting group gathering to no more than 200 people.
Nagel said things need to get back to normal, but if people think it is legitimately dangerous to host an event it may not be possible.
Highlighting the support the Lions have shown Cochrane over the years, Coun. Marni Fedeyko praised the work the organization does for the community.
She added that this marks the first time the Lions Club Labour Day Rodeo has come before council asking for funding from the community.
“You guys turn around and give that money back and invest it back into the community,” Fedeyko said. “If you guys can do it safely if you can do it within regulations you have my support and most of council’s support.”
