Enhancing Amusement Ride Safety
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT Alberta Municipalities advocate for the Government of Alberta to conduct a review of the codes and standards that govern amusement rides to ensure members of the public can enjoy the safe operation of these experiences.
WHEREAS Alberta municipalities provide safe and healthy community spaces, events, and programs for residents and visitors to gather and celebrate;
WHEREAS Amusement rides offer an exciting and fun feature to many permanent and temporary festivals and events throughout Alberta;
WHEREAS Alberta municipalities seek to mitigate residents’ and visitors’ exposure to harm and injury associated with the operation of amusement rides in their community;
WHEREAS the Government of Alberta administers the Safety Codes Act, which includes the development, interpretation, and enforcement of safety standards for amusement rides;
WHEREAS the Alberta Elevating Devices and Amusement Rides Safety Association provides independent oversight to the installation and ongoing safety compliance of elevating devices, amusement rides, and passenger ropeways throughout Alberta; and
WHEREAS recent incidents involving members of the public on amusement rides in Alberta warrant a review of the safety standards and industry compliance.
The Town of Stony Plain is requesting this emergent resolution be considered as a result of recent incidents that occurred in Stony Plain during a community event. In June 2023, two separate incidents occurred where amusement rides caused injuries to eventgoers, requiring an immediate call for inspection of the amusement rides, and resulting in the cancellation of the midway for the remainder of the event. Following these incidents, other Alberta municipalities with amusement ride providers participating in community celebrations have proactively requested onsite ride inspections to ensure the safety of eventgoers.
Amusement rides in Alberta must operate based on Canadian standards and regulations adopted under the Alberta Safety Codes Act. The Safety Codes Act outlines that amusement rides are inspected for compliance with the standards and regulations based on the following frequency:
• All amusement rides are reviewed for compliance at least once a year; and
• Portable rides must be inspected at the first set up in Alberta each year (1)
(1) https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/ddf68cc1-a702-4bc0-b867-f834194dd877/re…
The amusement ride provider involved in the incidents in Stony Plain received their required inspection at their first setup in Alberta for 2023 before hosting the midway in Stony Plain. Based on the incident in June, consideration should be given to conducting further inspections beyond the first setup.
While incidents involving amusement rides in Alberta are rare, the impact can be life-threatening. A 2010 incident at the Calgary Stampede resulted in enhancements to the regulations and oversight of the amusement ride providers. These recent incidents in Stony Plain warrant a further review of the Safety Codes Act standards and consideration of improved oversight, compliance, and enforcement.
The Town of Stony Plain has been in communication with Alberta Elevating Devices and Amusement Rides Safety Association to clarify their role and consider opportunities to mitigate the occurrence of these incidents. Additionally, Alberta Recreation & Parks Association has been contacted by the Town of Stony Plain to request support for this resolution prior to or during their upcoming AGM in the fall of 2023.
Ensuring safe and healthy communities is a cornerstone role for Alberta municipalities. Our direct and strong relationship with the Government of Alberta provides an opportunity to respond to these incidents productively, seek improvements in regulations, strengthen industry partners, and allow for continued positive community events and celebrations.