The Airdrie Regional Air Show Society’s request for a letter of support and an in-kind donation from Rocky View County (RVC) was approved by council at a March 24 meeting despite a recommendation for refusal from RVC administration.
After being held at the Airdrie Airport in 2009, 2011 and 2013, the Airdrie Regional Air Show was forced to find a new home for its 2015 air show. Air traffic changes caused by the new runway added to the Calgary International Airport have made it impossible for the Airdrie Airport to continue hosting the show. The newly named Wings Over Springbank Air Show will be relocating to Springbank Airport for the 2015 show July 18 and 19.
“We found out mid-November that Airdrie was completely off the table,” said society chair Sarah van Gilst. “Springbank Airport, as well as all of the businesses that operate there, are aware of the event and understand the impact the Wings Over Springbank Air Show will have.”
In order for the event to be hosted at Springbank Airport, however, van Gilst said the Society requires a letter of support from the county – promising not only that RVC is behind the event, but that RVC would also provide the necessary safety accommodations to make the event possible.
The society’s requests for fire services, enforcement and road operations were underestimated, according to RVC administration. Based on RVC’s involvement in previous air shows and discussions with Cochrane RCMP, administration’s report suggested RVC would be responsible for an estimated $37,225. The cost of road operations would be additional, as administration said those numbers are still unknown.
“In previous years, Airdrie had eight RCMP on site at the air show, and (Cochrane RCMP) felt that two RCMP members could not adequately cover any incidences that may arise,” said Lorraine Wesley-Riley, manager of enforcement services with RVC.
However, Wesley-Riley said the county has established a cost recovery plan should council choose to support the request – the Airdrie Regional Air Show Society would be willing to pay back the costs. According to Wesley-Riley, this would decrease the amount of donations the society would be able to make from the money raised at the event.
“We do have a significant amount of money we need to raise, but I recognize that this request is coming at the eleventh hour,” said van Gilst, and admitted the society currently does not have the capital funds to pay those costs.
Van Gilst said average attendance to the show is between 15,000 to 20,000, and to her knowledge, every past show has made money. According to van Gilst, a portion of the funds are kept in the bank to help finance the next year’s show, and then anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000 is distributed “back into the community.” The society is also insured to recoup costs in the case of an unforeseen loss.
“As a rural municipality, we need to focus on core services – not secondary services,” said deputy reeve Lois Habberfield. “This is a frill, and it’s come to us with not enough time to plan it properly.”
Habberfield added she was concerned that with so little time to plan the event, residents in the area hadn’t been sufficiently consulted – despite van Gilst’s assurance the society’s attempts to survey the Springbank community resulted in no complaints.
“I did do the best I could, a very reasonable survey of people in the local area, and it came to almost exactly 50 per cent in favour and 50 per cent opposed,” said area councillor Jerry Arshinoff. “A bit more than 80 per cent were opposed if it was going to cost RVC any money.
Arshinoff moved to support administration’s recommendation to deny the request, which failed 4-5 with Reeve Margaret Bahcheli and councillors Earl Solberg, Greg Boehlke, Al Sacuta and Bruce Kendall voting in opposition. Ashdown moved the request be approved by council, provided RVC receives confirmation the costs will be recovered from the society prior to the expenditure of RVC funds, and that the county be named as an insured.
