Cape Breton's Coal Bowl cancelled due to teacher contract dispute
Decades-old event was scheduled to begin in New Waterford on Feb. 6
The Coal Bowl — a decades-old basketball tournament in Cape Breton — has been cancelled as a result of the contract dispute between public school teachers and the province.
"It's very difficult. We waited until the last day possible to make the decision," co-chair Jacqueline Poirier said Friday.
"The loss is huge. For the town of New Waterford, for our businesses, it's a big week."
Coal Bowl depends on volunteers
The Coal Bowl, which started in 1982, attracts high school teams from all over the country to New Waterford's Breton Education Centre for a week every February.
The event was scheduled to begin Feb. 6.
Organizers said last month the tournament was in jeopardy because of the work-to-rule campaign, which dictates teachers will not help with school extracurricular activities. The Coal Bowl depends on volunteers, including many teachers.
During the Coal Bowl, students from at least dozen teams stay in the school for the week. It's also a big event for people in the area.
Looking forward to next year
"We utilize about 300 volunteers. It's a fun week for everyone. We're very saddened," Poirier said, nearly in tears.
"As a former teacher, I know how important it is to have a change in policy for the education system in the province. It is frustrating for the teachers, I know. I was one up until last year."
She said they have teams for next year and "everybody will be ready to go for next year, for sure."
With files from the CBC's Gary Mansfield