BVJ policing occurrences

By Lori Larsen

With the return of the Big Valley Jamboree, Camrose Police Service reports that, for the most part, the festival was enjoyed without any major concerns.

However, as would be expected when that many people are congregated in one area mixing alcohol and good times, there was bound to be some incidents requiring police response.

According to Camrose Police Service Inspector John Corbett, there was a total of 83 reported police occurrences, in comparison to 103 in 2019, the last year BVJ was held prior to COVID cancellations.

Some of these occurrences include: one sexual assault, three assaults, 13 impaired occurrences, and three thefts.

“The remainder of police-reported occurrences included liquor complaints, noise complaints, collisions, general assistance, and one major site eviction of a problem campsite.”

There was a total of 103 violation tickets issued on site during the event compared to 203 in 2019.

“The same number of traffic tickets were issued both years; however, the number of liquor violations issued in 2022 were significantly less than in 2019,” reported Corbett, stating that officers wanted to balance enforcement actions and education for patrons on the site grounds.

Corbett said there was a total of 14 arrests at the 2022 Jamboree site, compared to 29 in 2019.

The arrests included: impaired driving (5); public intoxication (5); breach of undertaking (1); outstanding warrant (1); theft of vehicle (1); and other provincial statute (1).

“Five of the 14 arrested subjects were lodged into cells because the subjects were not able to safely care for themselves,” explained Corbett.

Corbett said that high visibility and a proactive strategy were the main goals of police presence at the event.

“One proactive strategy that had a fairly big impact this year was the deployment of daily Checkstops,” he explained. “A total of 13 drivers were intercepted and taken off the road who were either over the legal limit (‘Fail’ readings), or not quite over the legal limit but should not have been driving (‘Warn’ readings). Overall, there was a 63 per cent increase in Impaired Driving events at this year’s event compared to 2019.”

He noted that all of these drivers were exiting the BVJ site on their way into the City of Camrose during daytime hours, and that officers also observed that once people noticed the police were conducting Checkstops, several motorists turned around and returned to their campsites.

This year, the police on site deployed the use of the Camrose Police Service E-bikes which assisted in providing a more efficient and effective response on the festival grounds.

According to Corbett, the 2022 BVJ did mark a year with notable reductions in police events compared to the 2019 festival: • 19 per cent reduction in reported police occurrences • 52 per cent reduction in arrests • 75 per cent reduction in assault complaints • and 73 per cent reduction in theft complaints.

Corbett said that while these trends represent some favourable public safety experiences, there were some factors that may have caused a decrease in police calls, including not having a walk-up police station on site and the Friday evening weather system that shut down main stage and beer garden entertainment.

“Overall, the event was a very positive one, and it was great to see the event return to full operation in our community, and people being able to get out and enjoy it after a long hiatus,” concluded Inspector Corbett. through the pages of e Booster

• Roger Garneau, owner of Garneau Inc. of Nisku, announced plans to build a $12 million pipe coating plant on a 135-acre parcel of land adjacent to the Camrose Pipe Company plant. In announcing the decision to build in

Camrose, he said, “There were four sites being considered but we had lots of our people come and visit Camrose, and when it came time to decide, everyone said, ‘Let’s go to Camrose!’” There were a number of other factors that attracted the company to Camrose, including proximity to Camrose

Pipe Company plant and accessibility to both CNR and CPR lines. • Camrose Pipe Company announced receipt of an order for 115,000 tons of 30” DSAW pipe for the Athabasca Pipeline, which will transport crude oil from Fort McMurray to Hardisty, a distance of approximately 500 kms or 342 miles. • Jody (Bratt) Greer organized a second annual “Cuts for Cancer” event to honour the memory of here father, Cameron Bratt. Camrose Police Service member, Ed Suyker, graciously donated his time and hair for the occasion.

The Bank of Nova Scotia made a generous donation to the Canadian Cancer

Society, giving employees Carolyn Cassady and Kerstin Quix-Bruno the opportunity to give Ed a clip.

• Bertha Army Worms have appeared in the district rape crops east of

Bawlf and in the Kelsey and Edberg areas. These are being sprayed by air with a Lannate solution. The County provides the chemicals at cost and Ted Havlik, Agricultural Field Man for the County, mixes the chemicals for distribution. Larry Williams, District Agriculturist, studied locations to be sprayed, advising spray pilot Scott Kinniburgh accordingly. Farmers could request the service but were responsible for the cost of chemicals and the spray application. • Gordon Stromberg, MLA for the Camrose constituency, presented cheques on behalf of the honourable Horst A. Schmid, Minister of Culture, Youth and Recreation; Myrna Beebe received $200 for the Youth Employment Service; George Sanders received $175 for the Zone IV East Drama Festival Association; and Ron Christenson,

Business Manager of Camrose Lutheran College, received $2,000 on behalf of the Summer Music Workshop. • Donna Marie Yuha, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Yuha of Bawlf, was named Alberta winner of the 1972 Canadian National Exhibition

Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded each year by the CNE to a top 4-H member from each province who is planning to further their education in agriculture or a related fi eld.

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