A unique multi-sport relay race is making its return April 26, with the Louis Riel Relay set to run once again between Gimlet and Gilby.
Organized by the Gimlet Community Centre, the event is part athletic challenge, part community celebration — and according to organizer Tanner Lawton, it’s mostly just about fun.
“It’s a for-fun relay in sequence,” said Lawton, who also serves as the president of the community centre. “One person runs two miles, one person then rides a mile on horseback, then a person rides on a pedal bike for three miles, and the final leg is a canoe leg — two people canoe a total of six miles.”
The canoe portion includes a portage halfway through, giving teams the chance to swap in a fresh pair of paddlers. The race kicks off at the Gimlet Community Centre and winds its way through the countryside, finishing near Gilby — depending on river levels.
“We usually wait a few days before the relay to see how high the river is, and that will decide our finish point — either by Gilby or just south of Gilby,” said Lawton.
This year’s relay will take place on April 26, with a 10 a.m. shotgun start in Gimlet. The event typically wraps up just after noon.
“Yeah, we’ve had some pretty quick times,” Lawton said with a laugh.
Historic school marker sign, Gimlet, Alberta. (94.5 Rewind Radio/Jordan Rein)
The Louis Riel Relay has its roots in the early 1980s, when a similar event was run in Saskatchewan. The communities of Gimlet and Gilby hosted a few local versions of their own during that time, but it wasn’t until about eight years ago that Lawton and others revived the tradition.
“We thought it was a good event, so we brought it back,” he said. “And we’ve been having it every couple of years now.”
At its peak, Lawton says the relay has drawn as many as 24 teams, with the average turnout around 15. Lawton says the focus is on participation rather than competition.
“It’s just a for-fun event and kind of a fundraiser — just to get us out and blow the dust off us from winter,” he said.
Proceeds from the event go toward supporting operations at both the Gimlet and Gilby community centres.
Teams can register by clicking here. While entries will be accepted up until April 23, those hoping to receive commemorative T-shirts need to register by April 15.
Spectators are welcome, too, and Lawton encourages anyone in the area to come out and cheer on participants.
For more information, contact Tanner at 403-392-1787.
Participants at the 2023 Louis Riel Race near Gilby, AB. (Angie Schroderus/Rocky Canoe Club)
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