The 139th Prince Albert Exhibition wrapped up on Saturday and after a rough second full day with multiple arrests, the Exhibition had no further incidents.
Prince Albert Exhibition Association President Greg Dionne said that the successful gates were because the weather cooperated throughout the week,
“I compare ourselves to farmers, if the weather is good we harvest and we’ve harvested because the weather’s been excellent,” Dionne said.
He said that the cooler weather on Saturday helped attendance on the last day. He also pointed to new attractions and expanded chuckwagon and chariot races.
“We’ve had five days of Chucks, where we normally have three. We got the heavy horses today, we got semi races, we got entertainment. We got such a variety going now that there is something for everyone, and of course everyone wants to come for exhibition food. There’s all different kinds of food,” Dionne said.
On Wednesday evening Prince Albert Police were called to the Exhibition grounds for three bear spray incidents and a tire slashing incident. According to Dionne after Wednesday there were no more incidents on the grounds.
“We were prepared for them and why I can say that because I’m very pleased with the security and the city police, everyone that was involved were acting ended in charge and will be in court later this week,” Dionne said.
The woman charged with slashing tires made her first court appearance on Aug. 1. Dionne said he intends to wrote the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice.
In June Minister of Justice and Attorney General Bronwyn Eyre was in Prince Albert and announced new provincial regulations to restrict the possession of capsaicin-containing wildlife control products (or bear spray) in public urban spaces.
The regulations also prohibit defacing or altering bear spray cans to hide or disguise their identity and enable police to seize the product. The regulations also mean suspects caught with the altered cans will be subject to fines.
Dionne said that something should be done about sales of bear spray because it is still available at large retailers.
“Well if it’s illegal to have it in the urban centre why do that.” Dionne said.
Dionne explained the use of bear spray in crowds only has one purpose.
“It’s just to terrorize the crowds and that’s what I don’t like about it,” Dionne said.
He explained that capturing the offenders required some luck.
“Because we were on them. Johnny on the spot, so that’s it and. And we haven’t changed up anything. We had 30 security guards on and the police here, so what more can you do. But the problem is people don’t realize how many acres the sites are, and you can’t cover it all.” Dionne said.
Michael Oleksyn/Daily Herald
The West Coast Amusements Midway was busy on the final day of the 139th Prince Albert Exhibition on Saturday.
The Open Light Horse Show wrapped up on the final day of the 139th Prince Albert Exhibition on Saturday.
Michael Oleksyn/Daily Herald
The Qu’Appelle Valley Heavy Horse Pull was another popular feature on the final day of the 139th Prince Albert Exhibition on Saturday.
He added that sometimes things slip through the cracks. Each entrance point at the Exhibition had bag searches and metal detectors operated by security.
“We made one arrest where the guy was by the fence and the guy threw it over the fence,” Dionne said.
He said that some pepper spray comes in plastic casing so it slips through metal detectors.
“We wouldn’t have even picked it up with our metal detectors So again, it’s a challenge,” Dionne said.
Overall after the incidents Wednesday everything ran smoothly.
“I’m very pleased and people are understanding,, they realize it happens, but they don’t want it to happen to them and neither do I,”
Total attendance for the Exhibition was not expected to be available until later this week. However, Dionne said that next year the Exhibition will be computerizing their gate number count. He said it will also allow them to collect an average over five years.
PAEX organizers thanked all the volunteers, participants, vendors, entertainers and everyone for attending this year’s Summer Fair.
“I just want to thank the people,” Dionne said.
He said that profits from this year’s Exhibition will go to new air handling units on the Prince Albert Exhibition Centre.
“ We invest our profits into our property,” Dionne said.
