Work continues on developing a combative sports commission for Drayton Valley.
The Town of Drayton Valley held a public hearing on the creation of a commission at their Nov. 24 meeting.
No one arrived at the hearing to speak out against it, but there was one there to speak in favour of it.
Brad Kelley of SBG Drayton Valley took the podium. He revealed he had conducted an informal online petition to gauge support, and over 170 people had signed it.
“There is a buzz in town. There are not many places I can go without people talking about this,” said Kelley.
Among the signatures, Kelley highlighted a letter of support he received from William Mahood, president of the Canadian Combat Alliance (CCA). The CCA is an organization dedicated to promoting amateur Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in Canada. The CCA also represents Canada on the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation, the international governing body for MMA.
Reading from Mahood’s letter, Kelley shared, “The CCA would be interested in hosting both provincial and national-level events in Drayton Valley if the commission were to be formed.”
Kelley also said that he has volunteers lined up who would like to sit on the commission.
With the public hearing closed, the bylaw to create the commission will be going to second and third reading. If it passes the two readings, town council would then start appointing people to the commission to get to work.
Town council is also waiting on a legal opinion from the Town’s legal counsel, and an opinion from the Town’s insurance provider. The insurance provider has already indicated the Town would need to take a separate insurance policy for MMA events.
A combative sports council would oversee sports such as boxing and MMA within the Town of Drayton Valley. The creation of one was brought forth by SBG Drayton Valley, who would like to start hosting MMA tournaments.
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