The challenge — fun in a secure environment
David F. Rooney, Editor


Times Review file photo

Art Kleinsmith says security will be good this year.

In a bid to preserve the Kokanee Glacier Challenge’s friendly and relaxed atmosphere, its organizers have hired a professional security company to prevent a repeat of the trouble that marred it last year.

“Security in the past as done by local volunteers,” says organizing committee member Art Kleinsmith. “That worked well but over the last three years we have seen a tremendous increase in the tournament’s size.”

The Kokanee’s growth – from 56 teams 15 years ago to 146 teams and about 2,000 people this year – there is the potential for trouble.

Kleinsmith, a sergeant and acting commander of the local Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment, said that became apparent last year when, for the first time, violence erupted at the event’s beer garden.

He said there were a couple of incidents when people came to blows.

“It’s what happens when people mix alcohol and contentious issues,” he said. “We had to take appropriate measures.”

The incidents so disturbed event organizers they decided to hire personnel from International Crowd Management, a professional event-security company.

“They’ll be here for three of the four days - Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” he said. “They are properly trained. They know what to look for and they’re experienced. My feeling is that this is the kind of control and security we need.”

While Kleinsmith said a rapid response by trained security personnel will likely prevent trouble this year the detachment’s officers will be “out and visible and ready to offer any assistance” if needed. He hopes that won’t be the case and would like to believe last year’s fisticuffs were anomalies.


Times Review file photo

Mounties will continue to have a presence at the Kokanee Glacier Challenge.

“I have to give a lot of credit to the teams that come here,” he said. “They’re here for a good time and they’re generally on their best behaviour.”

According to Phil Rosse, Kelowna North territory manager for Labatt Breweries of B.C., it’s that “positive experience” that helps maintain the connection between the Kokanee brand and the Revelstoke event.

“It’s a great opportunity to give our customers a positive Kokanee experience at a great Kokanee event,” he said. “This allows us to support a community that does a great job supporting our company as we have over 70 per cent of the domestic beer market share in Revelstoke.”

But it’s more than just an opportunity to support the sale of its products that keeps the brewery involved, he said.

“This is an event that supports the sale of our products and it does so with a responsible use message which is very important to us.”