2024-03-15 10:18:18
COATICOOK. The Coaticook Valley Expo may not take place this summer. Its organizers are indeed struggling to find a willing insurance company to do business with.
“Without this coverage, we will not be able to move forward,” confirms the president of the summer event, Philip Lanciaux. We set a date of April 15 to find a solution.
“It’s very disappointing because we had built a great program for this year,” he continues.
The problem lies in the event aspect which is held on agricultural land, that of the Coaticook Region Agricultural Initiatives Center (CIARC). “The insurer no longer accepts this type of risk,” confirms the general director of CIARC, Anthony Laroche. It’s a question of ownership. To our knowledge, we are the only exhibition in Quebec to be held on a farm. Other events, like Ayer’s Cliff or Cookshire, are held on private or municipal land. If we were too, we wouldn’t have this kind of problem. For our organization, we are assured of our mission, that of the farm school, animals and built heritage. If you add a gathering of several thousand more people, the overall risk has become too great for the insurance companies. »
“These same companies have also become more cautious over time,” continues Mr. Laroche. This is a much bigger issue than the Expo. Farm owners are finding it more and more difficult to obtain insurance, period. The Union of Agricultural Producers (UPA) has also looked into the issue recently. »
LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS
For several months, the Expo Vallée de la Coaticook team has been looking for solutions. The group works with the help of a broker to find a company willing to offer them coverage. “We continue to knock on doors. We are also expecting answers over the coming weeks, but considering those we have had in the past, let’s say that we are not holding our breath too much,” says Mr. Laroche.
The possibility of moving the event was also considered. “If anyone wants to raise their hand, we will listen,” says Philip Lanciaux. Impossible to return “to the city”, as in the past. “We would need a shooting range and buildings to accommodate the animals. The standards are stricter now. To ensure the success of the Expo, it must take place on CIARC land,” recognizes the president of the Expo.
“We no longer want to continue to work in vain,” adds the vice-president of the group, Tommy Péloquin. It’s shocking because we are in good financial health. There were a lot of people last year and we managed to get a nice little surplus to ensure our future. We’ll cross our fingers to find a solution. »
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