The Elks Fair was last cancelled due to the evacuation in 2015. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Major fundraiser

La Ronge Elks Fair cancelled as public safety prioritized during pandemic

May 11, 2020 | 4:47 PM

Thousands of northerners look forward to the La Ronge Elks Fair held every July, but this year the annual three-day event has been cancelled.

The Elks Club shared the update Monday with residents with Exalted Ruler Shea Duncan saying members are disappointed because they know it’s a community event so many people like to take part in. The fair has been held in La Ronge for more than 30 years and the only time Duncan can remember it being cancelled was due to the evacuation back in 2015.

“It’s our major fundraising piece for the year,” Duncan said. “We will see a bit of an impact with not being able to host our fair. The fair is always something that put us in a better financial position to give out money or to make funds available for different community pieces.”

Duncan noted the club was trying to reschedule the event from July 17 to 19 to some time in September, but ultimately it was Canuck Amusements that cancelled. The company had nearly two dozen stops in 2019 and Owner Bob Mills said he just couldn’t see a successful tour this year.

Canuck Amusements, located near Selkirk, Manitoba operates in several provinces between April and October. Mills added he employs up to 35 full-time staff during that time with many returning to work year-after-year.

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“It’s for the safety of everybody,” he said. “We don’t want to be the cause of spreading the virus or anything like that. We can’t do anything but follow the rules and the law.”

Mills also mentioned COVID-19 has crippled the amusement sector as every event with large gatherings have come to an end. It would have cost the company $150,000 in initial costs to begin operating, but with the uncertain environment, Mills couldn’t take the risk of not being able to start touring at all in 2020.

In 2019, Canuck Amusements brought 19 rides to La Ronge for children and youth, as well as numerous food and merchandise booths, games of chance and more. Organizers expected approximately 5,000 would attend last year’s event.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno