Dear Editor
It is with profound sadness we foresee the demise of the Battlefords Agricultural Society, Inc. (the exhibition association). The sadness is exacerbated by the knowledge the decisions dictating whether the Ag. Society lives or dies are in the hands of the City of North Battleford and it has already made decisions that negatively affect the continued viability of the society. In addition, it appears most likely the City is on the verge of making further decisions that will seal the destruction of the society. This is in spite of the fact that the predecessor of the Ag. Society came into existence 127 years ago and it has occupied its present location in North Battleford for 106 years.
After a number of long-term leases of the current grounds by the City to the Ag. Society, the City has informed the society it will not grant any further long-term leases and, in any event, any lease (including the current one) will be cancellable by the City on six months' notice. No responsible organization can properly plan with a lease that may be terminated on just six months' notice.
The City has also told the society that the current exhibition grounds are being reserved for development of "big box' stores that will generate substantial sales and tax dollars of the City. The City acknoweldges that it cannot forecast when such will occur but, in spite of this, will not consider a long term lease for the society.
We understand the city is contemplating the transfer of land that adjoins the exhibition grounds to one of the tribal councils. If such occurs, any opportunity to further develop the exhibition grounds by the society will be lost.
We also understand a consultant hired by the City to prepare an official community plan is, with the concurrence of the City, proposing the construction of a major thoroughfare that will bisect the exhibition grounds and follow a path that takes it through the parking lot, the fair midway site and the church and association food booth area that are associated with the summer fair.
The society does not have sufficient funds to relocate, even with adequate notice, and has no reasonable expectation of ever acquiring such funds.
If the City continues on its present course, the society will fail and all of its services will be lost to the people of the battlefords. This includes the summer fair/exhibition that will be presented this summer for the 125th consecutive year. It includes the end of chuckwagon and chariot racing, demolition derby and all activities presented before the grandstand. Of course, it means the loss of the midway.
The path chosen by the City will mean the end of the society's summer fair parade that has been presented every year in association with the fair. It means every church and community organization that had a booth at the fair will have to find alternate fundraising projects, not an easy task. It means every individual, group, association and company that uses the society's facilities will have to find alternative accommodations. It means the end of the children's festival that is held every spring and accommodated over 1,400 children this year.
We see it as a tragedy that the legacy of this council and its senior administration could very well be the end of this historic and essential community organization.
Dana Alexander
President, the Battlefords Agricultural Society, Inc.
