Over the weekend, the Town of Stony Plain made the decision to shut down rides at its Farmers’ Days exhibition following two incidents that sent attendees to hospital.
Alberta Health Services said emergency services responded on two separate occasions to the Stony Plain midway on Friday evening.
Around 5:30 p.m., a child was taken to hospital in stable condition. Five hours later, an 18-year-old woman was also taken to hospital in stable condition.
In a statement, Town of Stony Plain Mayor William Choy spoke about the midways closure
“Safety is always our top priority when organizing events for our community. While it is disappointing to cancel the Midway Rides, we must prioritize the well-being of our residents and visitors,” says Choy. “We are working closely with the Farmers’ Days organizing committee to address the mechanical issues and ensure that future events are both thrilling and safe for everyone.”
An inspection requested by the town took place on Friday night and determined that mechanical issues posed potential safety risks.
“The Farmers Days’ organizing committee has been working diligently with the ride operators to ensure a memorable experience for all festival-goers. Unfortunately, after careful assessment, it has been determined that these mechanical issues pose potential risks that could compromise the safety of the riders. Consequently, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Midway Rides for the remainder of Farmers’ Days to ensure everyone’s protection”
Wild Rose Shows, the ride operator, acknowledged an incident on Facebook, and said it was on the amusement ride called “The Construction Zone”
“Two incidents in this day and age is not acceptable,” said Wild Rose owner Mike Kryzanowski. “Due to public safety, we are better off just to close, have a full reinspection and start over again.”
Alberta Elevating Devices and Ride Safety Association (AEDARSA) will conduct a full re-inspection of all amusement rides before reopening to the public.
Wildrose Shows is scheduled to be at Devon Days this coming weekend.
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