Five years after being rescued from oblivion, the Flin Flon Trout Festival could be in trouble again.
Festival president Tim Babcock is looking to step down from his role but hopes to see the festival flourish for years to come.
“We are counting on new people to step into those roles, or the future of the festival will be in jeopardy,” said Babcock, who was recently re-elected to Flin Flon city council.
The Trout Festival’s annual general meeting (AGM) will be held in the city hall council chambers on Nov. 20, at which time Babcock hopes a new executive will be formed.
The AGM will go over the finances of the festival as well as brainstorm ideas to keep the beloved summer tradition going.
“Financially, we are doing okay,” said Babcock. “We’ve been fortunate to have some good fundraisers the last couple of years, such as the Wings Over Kississing helicopter rides and the Ford Drive One For Your Community.”
Help needed
But Babcock says the lack of volunteers concerns him.
“We’ve had some very dedicated committee members who have chaired multiple events, and they rely heavily on their family and friends and help,” he said. “Unfortunately, you can only call in so many favours and eventually people get burned out.”
The current executive has filled many roles and Babcock says everyone is tired.
“We could really use some help,” he said. “Last year we ran the festival without a vice-president and that caused some extra stress on the rest of us. Our secretary has taken a job out of town and the treasurer and myself are both in new jobs and don’t have the same amount of time to commit that we used to.”
Babcock stepped up as president in 2010 after accepting a surprise nomination from the floor at a do-or-die meeting.
“After five years as president of the festival, it is time for me to step aside and let someone else take over,” he said.
Babcock hopes to continue with the festival as past-president in an advisory role.
“I’m expecting to stay on for at least one more year in an advisory role, but I’m not willing to be the face of the festival anymore,” he said. “I’m a pretty busy guy, and I don’t have the time that is required to direct all the traffic in the months leading up to the festival.”
Meeting
The future of the Trout Festival is now in the hands of the community. A decision will be made at the Nov. 20 AGM as to whether a new executive will be formed.
“If people want to see this festival continue, I hope that they will come to the meeting…and lend a hand,” said Babcock. “When I went to the AGM five years ago, I had no intentions of taking over as president. I was expecting to help out on a committee and volunteer my time wherever it was needed. When my name was put forward for president, I was terrified. It was completely out of my comfort zone, but I knew that if I didn’t do it, there was a chance that no one else would. There has to be someone else out there that feels the same way about the festival as I do.”
While it’s unfortunate, Babcock says he is not surprised by the troubles facing the festival.
“I’m not going to lie and say that it’s an easy job,” he said. “It’s a pretty big commitment. I also believe that if I can pull it off, it can’t be that difficult. The framework for the festival is already there, and I’m not going to abandon the new executive. I’ll make sure that they have all the help they need.”
For anyone looking for information before the AGM, Babcock is available for questions at
204-271-5160 or by email at
[email protected].
