The controversy over the use of the confederate flag on the roof ofParkside Community Club's General Lee auction car inspired even more people to donate to the CMHA, according to organizers. (Parkside Demolition Derby/Facebook)

By Glenn Hicks

demolition derby diplomacy

Demolition derby controversy anything but a public relations wreck

Jul 26, 2019 | 2:30 PM

It was a controversial paint job but it seems to have produced a silver lining. The Parkside Community Club has announced the online kerfuffle surrounding their auction car for Saturday’s demolition derby has prompted widespread donations to the Saskatchewan division of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).

Club spokesman Kerry Peterson had initially said a surprise announcement about how they’d addressed the furor was planned for Saturday afternoon’s event, but they decided to share the news Friday to “get things behind us.”

The controversy about the use of the confederate flag on the “General Lee” replica car from Dukes of Hazard fame played a role in spurring several private and business donors to come forward with a total of $20,000 for the CHMA, according to Peterson. That was with the proviso that the car then be auctioned off Saturday with any additional proceeds earmarked specifically for the club, rather than the CMHA as originally planned.

“We had support [regarding the flag controversy] from all over Saskatchewan and Canada standing with us,” Peterson told paNOW. “It just shows you when we all stand up when some controversy shows up and we don’t just sit back, we can accomplish a lot of things together. It’s a good story.”

Earlier this week Premier Scott Moe tweeted a photo of the car to promote Saturday’s event in his Rosthern-Shellbrook riding, but there was an immediate backlash from some who were angered by the confederate flag on the vehicle’s roof, noting it was a symbol of racism and bigotry. The CMHA had been designated as the beneficiary of the this year’s event, but that organization distanced itself because of what it called a “hate flag”, even though it accepted the club meant no malice.

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“We know CMHA got caught in the middle of a situation that they didn’t deserve to be in and our community club also were caught up in it, especially the young men and women who worked countless hours building this car,” Peterson said. “Some people chose to make a big deal out of [the flag] and it shows if you take the high road good things happen.”

No such thing as bad publicity?

Peterson noted they probably made three or four times the amount they expected to make for the CMHA because of the publicity around the controversy.

The provincial branch of the CMHA is delighted with the financial outcome and applauded the club, community and donors.

“We do a lot of work in the area of mental health throughout the province and without the support of the community we couldn’t do what we do,” executive director Phyllis O’Connor told paNOW. “We’re just terribly grateful for those folks for taking a leadership role in getting this settled for us. It’s been wonderful.”

O’Connor agreed the whole situation seemed to have boosted the cause more than it might have done without the spotlight of controversy.

“I think the public awareness too that has come out of it is probably a good thing; there have also been some lessons here,” she said.

The Parkside Community Club said the words ‘Canadian Mental Health Saskatchewan’ on the trunk of the auction car will be removed.

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow