INNISFAIL - Horseshoers from across Alberta came to town recently for the annual Innisfail Open but the longstanding 36-year-old event was literally in the shadow of a simmering flag flap between the local horseshoe club and the town.
Local horseshoers insisted the Alberta flag be raised alone on their pole that overlooks the facility but the town says that contravenes official policy.
Myrna Kissick, the town’s feisty 86-year-old horseshoe czar, is the co-president of the Innisfail and District Horseshoe Club and tournament director of the Innisfail Open.
Since last month her club’s insistence to raise only the Alberta flag at the local horseshoe facility has generated passionate council discussion during back-to-back meetings on June 12 and 19.
“I think we should have a Canada flag and an Alberta flag. I think there should be a flag protocol,” said Coun. Jason Heistad to council members on June 12, adding he was going to be a “little chippy” on the issue. “This is Canada, not the State of Alberta. We should have both flags.”
Heistad raised the issue again on June 19, and wanted to know what flag protocols were in place for town-owned facilities, including the horseshoe pit.
“I think it's important that when we run our facilities that we represent our country, our province, and our community,” said Heistad.
Coun. Janice Wing then asked whether the horseshoe club asked for permission to put up just an Alberta flag.
“That’s a bigger concern for me,” said Wing. “It delivers right now a bit of a dangerous message. It’s our facility, not theirs.
“I can't imagine anybody doing an alteration to someone else's facility without permission, so I think we should have a conversation with them,” added Wing.
Mayor Jean Barclay told the Albertan on July 10 that the town does have a flag policy in line with Heritage Canada protocols that deals with flags at town-owned facilities.
“If you have one flag, it's a Canadian flag. If you have two, then there's a Canadian and an Alberta flag,” said Barclay. “It either complies with the flag policy or doesn't. There is a precedent on how flags are flown. And if you have a single flag, it’s to be a Canadian flag.
“The town does not have an official flag pole at the site,” said the mayor.
Barclay added she does not know whether the flag flap issue “needs to be” discussed any further, even after being told of the horseshoe club’s non-compliance over the past weekend.
“It's either compliant with the flag policy or it's not so it's administration’s task to deal with that now,” she said.
Todd Becker, the town’s chief administrative officer, told the Albertan on July 10 that he will now give direction to administration to contact the local horseshoe club to remove the flag pole at the facility.
He said if the club does not comply with the request town staff will then remove the flag pole.
Kissick, while aware of council’s objections, told the Albertan on July 8 that club members also discussed the issue among themselves and the decision was to continue on with just the Alberta flag raised for the Innisfail Open.
“Because it’s right and because it is an Alberta flag and we love it. It’s Alberta,” said Kissick. “They (council) are so thin-skinned. We didn’t ask them. I didn’t even give a thought to ask them.
“And we can't do it because they say where the flags go in town. But they (council) do not own this town. The people of Innisfail own this town, not town council,” said Kissick, admitting she is “outspoken.”
“I'm not unhappy about the flag flap. I just don’t like to be bullied. I hate dictators and I hate bullies, and I do not like unions.”
Kissick, however, did add the stance by herself and the club is in no way an opportunity to promote Alberta separatism.
“Give me a break. Of course not,” said Kissick. “Why would we want to do something dumb like that? The first thing I am is an Albertan; then I’m a Canadian.”
She said the Alberta flag would be taken down on July 9 at the conclusion of the Innisfail Open.
