People line up at the ticket sales windows at Co-op Place.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
In the sports and entertainment industry, safety and security are paramount. It shouldn’t matter if you are entering a venue for 100 people, or 100,000; you should feel comfortable and safe during your enjoyment of the event.]
At Co-op Place, we take this seriously, and continue to evaluate and evolve to ensure guest safety during events.
No venue is immune to its challenges in how to prepare for situations that could potentially put guests, staff, athletes or artists health and safety in jeopardy. Each event is unique, so are the safety plans that we put in place.
Staff, both internal and external, have undergone substantial customer service and crowd control training, and have been trained in emergency protocol.
Having been through two extensive years of Venue Management School through IAVM (International Association of Venue Managers), my eyes have been opened to the potential for minor or major incidents that could occur. We need to stay vigilant in order to prepare and execute successful events.
No one wants to think it will be ‘their’ venue which will be compromised by potential security or safety threats, until it does. The scale to which you plan for risks and hazards, are directly correlated to the success of events.
Our co-ordination and planning with local emergency authorities and City of Medicine Hat staff, have us well prepared in the event of an incident occurring. We continue to take steps to have the safest and most secure entertainment venue in the region, by promoting safe practices already in place, introducing new policies as the industry evolves and grows and correcting any deficiencies that are found where safety might be compromised.
If you would like to talk about safety and security at any of our Co-op Place events, I would be more than happy to discuss with you. We look forward to the continued support of our city venues, and can’t wait to see you again this fall!
Visit coopplace.ca for all the information about the venue.
Derek Schesnuk is the event unit manager in the community development department for the City of Medicine Hat
