A Heritage elementary school parent is upset after she purchased $300 worth of hiking and camping gear to outfit her son for a five-day trip to Mount Robson Provincial Park only to see the trip cancelled a week before it was supposed to take place.
Parent Bobbi Tanner said the trip, which had been set for June 6 to 10, was cancelled due to a lack of chaperones, which she said is a fair reason because of safety considerations but was not enough to quell her frustration.
"I understand that," Tanner said. "It's just a matter of maybe they should have had enough chaperones booked just in case that happens and before they get people to spend all this money on equipment."
The items purchased included a backpack, sleeping bag and hiking boots. Returning the equipment is doubtful because it was purchased from an Army and Navy store during a trip to Edmonton.
"We just thought we'll save some money on the HST, we're in Edmonton anyway just for a trip," Tanner said. "It just made sense to us at that time, we didn't think it was going to get cancelled."
Tanner said she could not chaperone because she works full time and she and her husband are also the parents of a 14-month-old child. Their situation also makes it doubtful they'll be able to make use of the equipment, bought for 13-year-old son Randy.
"We're just stuck with it," Tanner said.
Tanner talked to the teacher in charge and was told her concerns would be forwarded onto the school's principal. She also said the $80 fee for transportation was refunded.
School District 57 superintendent Brian Pepper expressed some sympathy for Tanner.
"I feel for parents when this happens, I really do," Pepper said.
But he also said safety takes precedence and added school district administrators and principals are not above cancelling trips at the last minute if a concern arises, such as bad weather, or if the paperwork is not complete.
"Trip cancellations are not uncommon given climate and circumstance," Pepper said.
The number of chaperones required can vary depending on the type of trip and the risks the students face.
"It's all linked to safety and supervision and the kind of activity that's being undertaken," Pepper said.
