Saskatoon Ex adds metal detectors following safety concerns

As families file into Prairieland Park for the Saskatoon Ex, their belongings will be searched as a part of updated safety measures.

The changes in safety have been made following incidents last summer, when people were injured by bear spray that had been smuggled into the grounds.

“We definitely want to make sure that doesn’t happen again by adding new security measures,” said Susan Kuzma, the manager of signature events at Prairieland Park. “It definitely should reduce or eliminate any of that for this year.”

After tickets are purchased, visitors will be asked to go through a walkthrough metal detector before they can enter the grounds. Bags, strollers and wagons will also be looked through by security.

Kuzma noted that happens before people enter the grounds, so if they need to put anything back in their vehicle that isn’t allowed in, they can do so easily.

That’s to ensure that no prohibited items enter the Saskatoon Ex. Those items include skateboards, bear spray, lawn chairs, alcohol or drugs. A full list of prohibited items can be found on the Ex’s website.

“I think it’ll be a very positive part of our program. It will expand the security measures and I think that once people get used to it, they’re going to see it in a lot of other venues as well,” said Kuzma.

Kuzma noted the Saskatoon Ex is an event that most of the city attends. She said similar big events like concerts at SaskTel Centre and the Calgary Stampede already have these safety measures in place.

The Ex is also implementing more safety measures for kids, who are often separated from their families at an event of this size. A wristband program for children allows their parents to write their phone number on the wristband, for easy contact if a child is lost.

The Saskatoon Ex runs from next Tuesday to Aug. 13.