REGINA – The ACA Cheerleading Competition at West Edmonton Mall is one of the biggest cheerleading events in western Canada, but after the extremist group Al-Shabab listed the mall as a possible terror target, three Regina high school teams have pulled out – Campbell, Balfour and Winston Knoll.
“This decision’s based entirely on the safety of students. Parents came forward and said they were not comfortable, that they were not sure their kids would be safe,” said Terry Lazarou, spokesperson for Regina Public Schools.
More than a dozen other teams are choosing not to attend, including the team from Greenall High School in Balgonie, Sask. However, the competition’s organizers say they’re taking security precautions and are working with police.
“We know that they have increased security, they’ve said that publicly and that’s both security personnel that are official and those that are plain clothes,” said Denise Fisher, Alberta Cheerleading Association (ACA) executive director.
READ MORE: 12 teams withdraw from cheerleading competition at West Edmonton Mall following threat
The ACA said West Edmonton Mall has provided updates on an emergency action plan. They will also provide added training to volunteers.
Both registered Saskatoon teams will travel to Edmonton this weekend. Bedford Road Collegiate is defending champion.
“This is so very different and new to Saskatoon – to Saskatchewan, to Canada. We need to raise our awareness, but we also can’t be bound by some words that are spoken half a world away,” said Bruce Bradshaw with Saskatoon Public Schools.
“A lot of the calls we’ve gotten, while some are concerned about the event and the threats associated, a lot of them are also concerned that the event will be cancelled,” said Fisher.
She explained that unless they hear from RCMP or Edmonton police that there is an imminent threat, the event will go on.
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