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What was meant to be a day of celebration and community spirit took a heartbreaking turn last night as a powerful windstorm swept through the area, forcing the cancellation of all Footstock races scheduled for today.
The storm hit just after 9 p.m., causing significant damage to the Footstock race site, tearing down fences, shattering canopies, and scattering supplies across the grounds. Organizers say the extent of the damage made it impossible to safely proceed with the event.
“The Footstock Race Site has suffered extreme damage and losses,” read an official statement on the Footstock website. “It is with heavy hearts that we share with you that we must cancel all Footstock’s races. For safety reasons, we cannot ready our race site and race courses tomorrow.”
Despite the disappointment, the team behind Footstock is working to salvage the community spirit the event is known for. A pancake breakfast, hosted by the Stampede Caravan, will still go ahead at the Spray Lake Sawmills Centre from 8 to 11 a.m. Sunday morning. Tim Hortons will also be on site with their coffee truck, and entertainment is planned to lift spirits.
“We’ll bring the picnic tables onto the curling pad and do our best to celebrate the fantastic Footstock spirit together despite this disappointment,” organizers said.
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While trails in the area were reportedly left mostly intact, debris from the storm created additional safety concerns for runners and volunteers alike.
One organizer described the scene as heartbreaking, saying, “The wind storm really caught everyone off guard and sent all our work and preparation down the gutter.”
