Firefighters outmuscle police in outhouse race

If Regina were to ever face a winter toilet emergency, its firefighters may be the ones to call.

On Monday, they proved they can push an outhouse on skis faster than the city police.

The fire department placed third overall at the Hole-ympics Outhouse Races on Wascana Lake — one of the major draws at the Waskimo Winter Festival.

Jordan Gelinas was one of the four firefighters pushing a brightred outhouse, fashioned together from spare parts scrounged up around the fire hall.

His team constructed what looked like a far sturdier lavatory than what their brothers in blue threw together.

“This is our first year out. It was really fun,” said Gelinas. “It’s good for the community to see us out here with police and have a little friendly competition.”

Gelinas said the department’s solid building methods were actually a handicap on the ice. It’s a good thing they had big burly volunteers to push the outhouse’s substantial weight. The firefighters took the corners a little wide, he admitted, but they never lost their balance.

“We just try to keep her as straight as possible and not tip,” Gelinas said. “That was pretty much it, keep her on the road.”

The volunteers included fire Chief Layne Jackson. One firefighter, among the department’s slimmest, had the privilege of sitting on the toilet inside.