If the storm had happened two weeks later, this area would have been filled with campers, trailers, people and horses. (submitted photo))

By Susan McNeil

Nipawin Exhibition will go on

The show will go on: Nipawin Ex still going ahead following storm devastation

Jul 5, 2023 | 1:52 PM

“It looked like a war zone”, described the president of the Nipawin Exhibition Association following a major storm that saw damage to their barn, pavilion, fencing and the food booths run by local service clubs.

But, thanks to dedicated work by municipal employees who have made clearing the grounds a priority, Debra Lacheur said the annual Exhibition and Fair will go as planned, starting July 17.

“Honestly, I cannot say enough about the group of people that work for the town that are doing the clean up,” she said. “They have put us at the top of the list and they’re just doing their very best.”

Not all the damage may be visible as many trees were uprooted and could have cracked water and sewer lines as the roots came up but that is something that will be dealt with as needed, she said.

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The society is asking the public to stay off the grounds as they are not sure how safe the area is. When that changes, they will alert the public via their social media pages.

“The grounds were very unsafe,” Lacheur said. “We’ve discouraged people from even coming around here.”

As of July 5, there was still sheet metal hanging in a few places and trees were still at risk of falling.

As bad as the situation was, it would have been much worse had the storm happened during the fair.

“As devastating was this was, it would have been much worse two weeks from now. The grounds would have been full of livestock and people and campers. Guaranteed someone would have been hurt or worse,” Lacheur said.

Anticipating business will continue as normal, the society opened its doors to advanced sales of wrist bands on Monday and will operate Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until the fair opens.

The Town of Nipawin is calculating the damage and costs of the storm in preparation to ask the province for disaster assistance.

The storm hit town about 10:30 p.m. on Canada Day, knocking down hundreds of trees and was clocked by some residents between 119 to 146 km/h.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com