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By Ashley Lavallee-Koenig

WAIVING RENTAL FEES

Blackfalds town council supports hosting the 2026 Canadian Women’s Fastpitch Championships

Oct 23, 2024 | 1:16 PM

The Town of Blackfalds has agreed to waive rental fees for the Sterling Industries Sports Park and write a letter of support for the Red Deer Ladies Fastball League to host the 2026 Canadian Women’s Fastpitch Championships.

The 2024 championship took place in Blackfalds at the Sports Park last August, which was the first time in 25 years it was hosted in Alberta.

Read more: Women’s Fast Pitch championship returns to Alberta for first time since 1999

Rick Kreklewich, Director of Community Services, said the cost being waived would be about $2,400 for the August 4-9, 2026, time frame, which is when the championship is currently slated for.

While no reports outlining economic benefits of the 2024 event were available to council before the Oct. 22 meeting, Mayor Jamie Hoover and councillors recalled increased traffic in the community and said that anecdotally, it seemed to have been a benefit.

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“I can’t validate that the town saw a huge financial benefit, but judging by the traffic and everything that we saw in town, I’m pretty sure there was some sort of financial benefit,” commented Coun. Jim Sands. “But I am fully in favour of giving them that opportunity again as it does bring a lot of good name to Blackfalds at the same time.”

Coun. Brenda Dennis expressed that she supports keeping the dates available but felt concerned about earmarking the money as at that point, a new town council will be elected. She also reminded council that the League’s letter to the town requested that maintenance costs be covered as well.

“As far as things that we spend money on, this is pretty minimal… at $2,400 I’d be happy to have it here again knowing that we can do a little more testing, or maybe it’s one of those things where we just get more community involvement,” commented Coun. Marina Appel, “but I would rather see this event in our community than not.”

Hoover added that the Red Deer Ladies Fastball League assisted in the maintenance this year by providing personnel from the organization, and that the event was well recognized and even drew the premier to town.

The motion to waive the rental fee and write a letter of support for the League passed 4-1, with Coun. Dennis opposed.