SportFest draws big crowds
Organizations get exposure at one event
The Third Annual SportFest was their biggest one yet. SportFest is presented by Lethbridge Sport Council, and is a free interactive trade show for sport, recreation, fitness, health, nutrition and physical literacy.
On Saturday, SportFest filled the Servus Sports Centre with dozens of sports and hundreds of local residents eager to see everything the city has to offer.
Last year, synthetic ice was showcased for the community and was a popular addition to the event. This year, the synthetic ice is back, along with a new court flooring.
“This gives organizations like Lethbridge Basketball Association and Lethbridge Roller Hockey an opportunity to be able to try it with people who come to see their booths,” said Tanya Whipple, program and communication coordinator at Lethbridge Sport Council.
“They can try some basketball, and they can actually try some rollerblading and some stickhandling on the court floor.“
One of the booths was manned by Ryan Heavy Head, an ecological consultant and the City’s rattlesnake expert. On Saturday, he was at SportFest to generate awareness of the rattlesnake population in the coulees.
“There’s a lot of people in the coulees who go for trail running or bike riding, or other sports,” he said.
It is important for local residents to remember that the coulees in Lethbridge are not manicured parks, but should be treated as wilderness areas.
“You have to be aware that it is rattlesnake territory,” he said. “So you have to schedule your activities for times when they are less active, or stay on the paths where you can see them.”
“The reality is the snakes in our coulees are not out to get anyone,” he said. “They are not aggressive. But if you step on one by accident, they are going to defend themselves. That’s what you need to avoid doing.”
Heavy Head said the best time to be in the coulees is around dawn when the snakes generally are not active.
Late afternoon and early evening is when they are most active, and Heavy Head said local residents should consider staying on the paths if they go into the coulees at those times.
With so many sport organizations operating in Lethbridge, SportFest operates as an important bridge between those organizations and people who might be interested in learning more about them.
“It’s just a good connection to find out who they are, and have them tell you about themselves, and give you an opportunity to decide if it is something you want to try.”
This year, the event was moved to August from September in order to facilitate an opportunity for sport organizations to collect registrations — something they are unable to do later in the year.
“There’s definitely something here for all ages,” she said.
“Our overall goal is just to make connections and get more people involved in sport,” she said.
“There’s just all kind of things they can do, and hopefully, discover something where they can carry it on outside of SportFest.”