The much anticipated Allies Mountain Bike Festival scheduled to take place this weekend in the North Thompson Valley community of Chu Chua has been cancelled.
Simpcw First Nation Chief Shelly Loring posted the following message today on social media.
“Friends, we have very sad news,” said the Simpcw First Nation Facebook post, “A prominent member of the Simpcw First Nation passed away this afternoon in Chu Chua. Cultural protocols for the Simpcw First Nation are that any non-essential activities planned for the community are postponed.”
“We respect the Simpcw First Nation deeply and have made the decision to cancel the Allies MTB Festival. We appreciate that some of you may have already begun your trip to Chu Chua, we’re sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, and we kindly ask that you do not visit the Simpcw First Nation this weekend,” wrote Loring.
Mountain bike enthusiasts were set to travel from all over for this first Allies Mountain Bike Festival scheduled to take place April 29, 30, and May 1.
The festival was a partnership between the Simpcw First Nation, Indigenous Youth Mountain Bike Program (IYMBP), and First Journey Trails, a trail construction company which teaches First Nations trail crews trail design and building. This Allies event was aimed at showcasing this network and bringing Indigenous and non-indigenous trail users together.
“We deeply appreciate your interest and support for this event. It means so much that so many were willing to travel to the community and share the Nation’s trails and accomplishments,” said Loring, “For now, we are focused on supporting the community through this difficult time. We will be posting notifications to social media, and we encourage everyone to spread the word. In time, we’ll regroup and consider options for planning this event again at an appropriate time. Thank you so much for your understanding and your support.”
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