Lack of Venue and budgetary restrictions is what forced the hand of the Highland Games Committee to cancel their games until next year.

David Roe, Chairman of the Highland Games Committee says, the loss of their regular venue was what put a big wrench in their plans.

"Unfortunately our site hasn't worked out for us this year, we've just gotten to the point right now, where it's too late to find and / or re-organize a different location within the next month."

The Games usually take place at the Foothills Composite High School, however due to methane leaking from the field, that's not a viable option anymore.

Roe says they thought they would move the Pope Jean Paul II Collegiate School, but that didn't work as planned either.

He shares that they've gotten too close now, to make it work even if they did find a suitable location.

"It would be really tough right now. We've held off on getting sponsorship, and really doing a sponsorship drive until we could hammer down a location." Roe says "To go out now and try to drum up sponsorship with the time allowed, is a really hard task to hold the committee to."

The Committee will still be hosting a ceilidh on July 29th, which was supposed to be game date.  They will use this event as a fundraising component to carry into 2018.

Committee Chair Dave Roe says they have some improvements coming as well.

"Hopefully we'll be able to bring in some new people on to our committee, and we're looking to have a casino coming into 2018 a well. We should be set up fairly well, and with this extra time we can really focus on a venue and get sponsors on board right away." He adds "It is not the end for good, we're always looking to the future.  That being said, for the future, we do need more members to be able to actually keep these games alive in our area."

To help out, by becoming a volunteer you can contact Dave Roe at fhgchair@gmail.com

Or, you can visit the Highland Games Facebook page for more information.

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