By Nigel Maxwell

Where are the Spudnuts?

Aug 4, 2011 | 6:35 AM

There are certain things people come to expect at the summer fair: scary rides, games, and great food. A few fair goers have expressed their disappointment that there is no spudnuts booth this year.

In years past, Big Brothers and Big Sisters have run the spudnut booth.

“We have re-evaluated all of our fundraisers. After looking at our revenue versus our cost and staff time and volunteer time, we realized being at the fair is not cost effective for us,” said Allyson Wall, events fundraising co-ordinator.

“We go through numerous volunteers for those spudnuts. We probably have 20 volunteers a shift and we have four shifts. So that's 80 volunteers a day times five days. And staff are putting in 16-hour days.”

While the news may be tough to swallow, Wall is assuring people that spud nuts have not been exiled from the city. She said they would continue to have their spud nut days four times a year, when they deliver the tasty treats to local homes and businesses.

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The next spudnut day is coming up on Sept. 19.

“We know it's a fair favourite and we know it's going to take a while for the community and surrounding areas to get used to because a lot of people come to the summer fair just for the spudnuts,” Wall said.

When asked if they would be back, Wall said “it's is a trial year for us but it looks right now that we won't be returning to the Prince Albert exhibition.”

nmaxwell@panow.com