Following a devastating windstorm that struck the night before race day, organizers of Footstock 2025 have announced next steps and extended appreciation to the community in the wake of the event’s cancellation.
“As we look to the future of Footstock, we remain committed to its long-term sustainability and to the spirit of community that has shaped it for over 26 years,” organizers said in a statement. “To show our appreciation for your continued support, we are offering 50 per cent off registration fees for next year to all 2025 registrants.”
The cancellation — announced the night before the event — was made due to safety concerns after high winds severely damaged the race grounds. Photos posted to Footstock’s official Facebook page showed extensive damage to infrastructure.
“The infrastructure, the logistics, and all the people power required to safely run an event — we just couldn't get it all back in time,” said race director Meredith McMorran.
“It was a heart-wrenching decision because all of us on the Footstock board are there because we love Footstock. We love the way it brings together all kinds of people in our town — the volunteers, the participants, their families, the sponsors — everyone who's proud, as I’ve always been, to be associated with this event.”
One of the major challenges was the bike course, which runs along Griffin Road and adjacent sidewalks. McMorran explained that event signage and pylons couldn’t legally be placed until the day of the race.
“Even if we had done it earlier, it likely would have blown away anyway,” she said.
The storm struck the site around 9 p.m., and McMorran, along with other organizers and volunteers, stayed onsite for cleanup until 4:30 a.m. the next morning.
“Usually, between eight and 10 volunteers come out early in the morning,” she said. “This time, we knew we were going to be in triage mode, trying to tidy things up and pull what we could from our trucks. We just couldn’t be confident we could run a safe event.”
Despite the disappointment, organizers said they were overwhelmed by the community’s response and willingness to help.
“We have such gratitude toward sponsors and the volunteers who showed up Sunday morning thinking they had one job, but ended up helping in completely different ways,” said McMorran. “They willingly said, ‘We’ll do whatever you need.’”
Participants also showed support for the decision, offering kind messages in person and online.
“People said, ‘We understand how hard this must’ve been,’” McMorran recalled. “They told us, ‘We’ll come back. We know how hard you work and how many volunteers are involved.’”
Instead of a race, the Footstock team hosted a Stampede Caravan Pancake Breakfast and welcomed attendees with coffee from a Tim Hortons truck — a small gesture to uphold the community spirit Footstock is known for.
“We had to do our best to celebrate the fantastic Footstock spirit together despite this disappointment,” the team posted on social media. “We want to express our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors, volunteers, participants and supporters. Footstock has always been about community, and we hope to see you at Footstock 2026.”
Race and registration dates for Footstock 2026 will be announced this fall, when 2025 participants will also receive information on how to claim their registration rebate.
