The Lloydminster Exhibition anticipates an economic boost as it gears up for the 36th annual Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association (CPCA) Finals.
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Hotels, motels and short-term rentals will fill up with fans. Restaurants, cafés and grocery stores will see higher traffic while local shops, fuel stations and service providers will benefit from extra spending. Veterinarians and feed supplies will also benefit from the festivities.
The event, which started today and runs until Aug. 24, has Jackie Tomayer, general manager of the Lloydminster Exhibition, excited.
“This event probably generates five to six (million). Annually, we bring in about $27 million,” said Tomayer, noting it costs the Ex about $150,000 to bring the CPCA to town.
“So, how do we pay for all that? Bums in seats and sponsorship,” she said, adding it takes a small army of volunteers and workers to put on the event.
“We’re responsible for volunteers, admission takers, 50-50, ushers, track personnel,” said Tomayer. “There’s turnback barrier men, there’s horse ambulance people. We have two horse ambulances on site.”
The Ex, however, also gives back to the community with a Sunday morning pancake breakfast in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lloydminster, which is served by the drivers competing in the event.
“Iin this community, we probably spend more than most communities,” said 11-season veteran CPCA driver Robby Ethier. “We spend a lot in different communities but there’s so much access to all our needs here, from food to equipment and more.”
Ethier listed several Lloydminster businesses where wagon families spend money during the week.
“We get lots of food from Spiro’s. I’d also like to thank my sponsor, PWM Steel, from Lloyd,” he said.
“That helps me quite a bit for racing through the summer. And the Co-op, or Lammle’s, different places that we go to. I spent a couple of hundred dollars at the local grocery store, too.”
Despite recent rain, Tomayer said the track will be ready for today’s opening heats.
“Frank came and started grading the track on Sunday,” she said on Tuesday, Aug. 19. “We graded yesterday again just to dry it.”
Tomayer encourages residents to come together, fill the stands and enjoy the action. She also invited fans to Saturday night’s cabaret featuring the band High Limit.
The event features over 25 registered drivers and nine heats per night. Tickets are $20 at the gate, which open at 5 p.m., and races start at 6:30 p.m. Championship Sunday starts at 2 p.m.
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