It was great to see the Winter Carnival in full swing over the weekend. With snow only falling on the final day of this year’s carnival, it felt more like spring for most part but the lack of snow did not stop the fun. From the bobsled race to rail jam, from the luge cup to the float parade, Rossland sure knows how to turn on the fun.
And we do it so well. In the main are of town, we saw bobsleds launch down a public road at 79 kilometres per hour, people sitting in bobcat buckets, and back flips off pieces of metal.
There is a fine balance between maintaining public safety and putting lives at risk. Over the Winter Carnival weekend Rossland demonstrated a great example of maintaining the public’s safety while having a good time and it showed on the faces of those involved. We are able to flex a few rules and live a little, taking responsibility for ourselves while minimizing risk. Things don’t have to be so rigid and controlled in the mountain kingdom.
Is this part of the attraction of the Winter Carnival? Do people want to break from their routine and get away mundane policy that can be over protective? Being over protective sometimes only gets in the way of progress. Sure, the Winter Carnival might not be as extreme as it was back when Olaus Jeldness hosted the party, but we do not live in constant fear of litigation.
We are happy to have a go, and let others have a go so they can develop self awareness. Rossland has a great ambience and let’s hope it continues for at least another 118 years!