BARRHEAD - A local group is hoping to revive the old Queen of Hearts triathlon and expand it.
Town of Barrhead councillors on Feb. 12 voted 6-0 (Coun. Dave Sawatzky was absent) to allow a newly-formed committee to effectively use the Barrhead Regional Aquatics Centre, the Agrena's Charles Godberson Rotary Room, the curling rink rent-free along with a large portion of the parking lot surrounding the swimming pool, curling rink and Blue Heron Bowl for the duration of the event.
The Queen of Hearts was a women-only triathlon event in Barrhead from 2010 to 2013 before the old aquatics centre's abrupt closure forced it into mothballs.
Casey-Lee Cox, a member of a newly formed committee to revise the event, asked council, via a letter, for the use of the facilities for a revised event that would include a children's event for ages three and up, a try-a-tri distance as well as the main sprint triathlon event with an up to 750-metre swim, a 20-km bike portion followed by a five-km run open to anyone.
If the Queen of Hearts had continued, the plan would have expanded the event to include a children's event and created a men's division.
"I do understand that this is not a small undertaking, and I have already been in contact with community members to start planning for this event," she stated. Upwards of 75 volunteers were required to stage the Queen of Hearts triathlon. "However, I am appealing to you for support with this event to make it a success."
Parks and recreation director Shallon Touet said if council granted the request, the municipality would have to close the swimming pool to the public for a full day.
"The timing isn't bad," he said of the proposed Aug. 24 event. "Our annual [two-week maintenance] shutdown is scheduled for the day after."
Touet added if the annual maintenance shutdown wasn't scheduled for the next day, the aquatics centre would likely have to be closed to the public for an additional one or two days for cleaning.
"I am told by [triathletes] who do the swim because of the sunscreen and everything, by the second heat, the water is already murky," he said.
Touet emphasized that planning for the event is still in its infancy, and the organizing committee has not discussed the potential bike and run routes.
"The biggest issue they will have is for safety is not to cross [Highway 33], but there is likely no way around that," he said. "They will have to talk to the RCMP and EMS because they will need more support than the town can provide them, and they will have to go out of the way to make this happen."
It should be noted that the committee will likely need the permission of Alberta Transportation if any portion of the bike and run takes place or crosses Highway 33.
Coun. Don Smith and mayor Dave McKenzie said they supported the request, saying the event would be a potential boon to the community.
"The Queen of Hearts was very successful when it was here, and it was very well-run, with participants coming from across Alberta. It is a great opportunity for the town to host an event like this," Smith said.
McKenzie agreed, referring to the Grande Cache Death Race.
"It started with three businessmen sitting around talking about the possibility, and all of a sudden, it is an international event," he said.
Coun. Rod Klumph agreed but said Cox's request had financial implications.
He added that traditionally, the municipality does not waive rental fees per se but gives them a community grant, which the organization pays back for using the facilities. Council adopted the procedure for the bookkeeping reasons.
The agenda package estimated the rental cost of the aquatics centre at $2,280, and a minimum of four parks and recreation staff would be needed, costing roughly $800. The request for decision also notes that additional municipal staff time would be required to help with road and parking lot closures, and the Barrhead Regional Fires Services (BRFS) staff and volunteers would be needed as part of the triathlon's safety plan.
"How much money do we have budgeted for [unallocated miscellaneous community grants], and would $3,000 take a big chunk of that?" Klumph asked.
Corporate services director Jennifer Mantay said the municipality's budget was $12,500, none of which has been used.
Coun. Ty Assaf said that although Cox's letter did not ask if the committee could use the facilities for free, he believed it was implied.
He said earlier in the meeting, council discussed potentially advertising outside the community as a way to bring tourists to Barrhead.
"This is a perfect advertising opportunity that will bring in a lot of people," Assaf said. "Not just people from the lakes but all over the province. It is time for us to step up and actually promote this town without the fear of spending that little bit extra."
Klumph said he agreed, to a point.
"In the past, decisions to support these events have always come out of our community grants," he said. "I'm not ready to give them carte blanche. When it comes to the town's money, we need to have restraint and stick to our [community grants budget].
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
