VerSet camp making a return appearance?

If a report to the Taber Recreation Board last week is any indication, it looks like the chances of the VerSet Skills Camp staying in Taber are good.

Running from Aug. 11 to Aug. 17, it marked the final year of the initial three-year contract the camp signed with the town after previously being held in Coaldale.

“I met with representatives from the camp shortly after the camp ended. VerSet representatives expressed satisfaction with the ice conditions, the facilities and the staff. They also expressed it was one of the best one weeks of the camp in the three years they have held the camp here in Taber,” said Rob Cressman.

Cressman is the director of community services.

“They are definitely interested in continuing to hold their camp in Taber. They indicated from their perspective that one week was preferable. They felt they were better able to meet the market demand over one week as opposed to two weeks.”

The camp did have its challenges early in the week as extremely hot temperatures outside at 30-plus Celsius caused humidity and condensation while making ice inside the Taber arena.

“We very much appreciated the fact Dale Setoguchi donated the use of some industrial exhaust fans to alleviate the problem. We will be better prepared in the future to manage that. The issue of the humidity and condensation I think really relates to the conditions outside and inside the facility,” said Cressman.

According to Cressman, VerSet Skills Camp has shown interest with consideration participating in the town’s sponsorship program with signage.

Cressman stressed no contracts have been signed on the dotted line for a new agreement between the town and the VerSet Skills Camp at the time of the Taber Recreation Board meeting on Sept. 5.

“We have expressed that we value this event in our community as well and we would look forward to making it happen for the next few years if we can make it happen,” said Cressman.

Luke Wijna inquired what the extra costs would be to the town in putting the ice earlier than it normally does to accommodate the VerSet Skills Camp, but now would only be generating one week of revenue form the camp as opposed to two.

“We anticipate that the availability of the ice would be the same as the first three years of the camp. There are definitely bookings in there, but we don’t make it available for the week leading up to Cornfest because of the demand for our resources , but it is certainly available for rentals,” said Cressman.