Edmonton Journal

Money-losing Highland Games get the caber toss

- HINA ALAM halam@postmedia.com Twitter:@hinakalam

The Fort Edmonton Highland Games, a summer staple, will not be held this year because the event was no longer financiall­y viable, organizers say.

The decision to cancel the event, slated for July 14-15, was not an easy one, Carl Damour, vice-president of operations with the Fort Edmonton Management Co., said in an email Wednesday.

“After very careful review, we identified that this event was simply not financiall­y viable,” he said.

The decision was met with anger and disappoint­ment by the Scottish community.

In an email, John Stewart, president of the Alberta Society of Pipers & Drummers (ASPD), said his group is “extremely disappoint­ed, and saddened.”

The cancellati­on, he said, was on short notice and has put a burden on many who made travel plans and bought plane tickets and reserved hotel rooms.

Damour said attendance varied with the weather.

“A typical weekend in July would see about 2,000 visitors,” he said.

The event, first held at the park about 29 years ago, had been operating at a deficit for a number of years, Damour said.

Plans for next year are uncertain, he added.

“We are committed to working with our partners to make future events bigger and better,” he said. “We will do that. However, with financial viability in mind.”

As part of the new strategic direction for the park, Damour said all events will be evaluated to ensure they are market-aligned, customer-focused and financiall­y viable.

“This will ensure that Fort Edmonton Park can grow as Western Canada’s premiere cultural heritage tourist attraction,” he said.

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