Insurance demands cancel Norman Watson Classic

After 20 years of cycling, paddling and running events, the Sir Norman Watson Classic adventure race has been cancelled due to insurance issues.

According to race organizer Bill Keeling, Parks Canada increased its insurance demands, which proved to be a request organizers could not fulfill.

“I’m disappointed to say the least.”

“Parks Canada wanted to make sure we were protected from participant liability,” Keeling said.

There are three obstacles preventing the race from happening, Keeling said: the lack of an eight-person race operations team, insurance approval and an environmental assessment.

Parks Canada has agreed to complete the environmental assessment, and Keeling is struggling to find volunteers for the race. He will hold a meeting on Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. at the Lake Louise Inn for those interested in helping with the race, for roles such as timing official, mountain bike official, canoe official, running official and others..

In order to find third party liability insurance, Keeling has been in conversation with the Alberta Triathlon Association, which has stated, in principle, they are supportive of the event. However, before the group fully supports the event, he must find eight more volunteers to control various stages of the race.

Although the Sir Norman Watson Classic combines canoeing, mountain biking, running and road biking, there are enough similarities between the Lake Louise event and regular triathlons for the organization to consider supporting it, insurance-wise.

The main difference between triathlons and the Sir Norman Watson is the canoe aspect of the race.

Paddlers travel through difficult rapids as part of the course, and a few canoes have been damaged over the past 20 years of the race. No one has ever attempted to sue the race for damages, Keeling said, but he wants to ensure racers are protected.

Keeling said he’s saddened the event had to be cancelled, however, he’s optimistic it will return next year.

Jenny Klafki, the Parks Canada manager of external relations for Lake Louise field unit, said all existing events had to go through new guidelines for special event approval.

“The organizers of existing events were given a year to make sure their ducks were in a row,” Klafki said.

Parks Canada identified river and road crossing concerns with the race, and want to ensure they are ‘up to industry standards,’ according to Klafki.

“We had to redefine definitions of liability insurance. The goal is to protect the organizers, the volunteers and race participants, not just for injury, but for death as well. We also need to indemnify the Crown,” Klafki said.

All special events had to go through the same process, Klafki said, however, she couldn’t say how many other events were postponed or cancelled because of the requirements.

Parks Canada is willing to continue to work with Keeling to ensure the race returns next year, Klafki said.

“Bill (Keeling) is very conscientious of safety… we want to continue to work with him.”

This isn’t the first time the classic has been cancelled due to insurance reasons.

Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, the race was also cancelled due to increased insurance demands.

The Sir Norman Watson Classic is named after the founder of the Lake Louise ski area. It consists of a 10km mountain bike, a 10 km run, 27 km paddle and 28 km road bike.