With the cancellation of Thunder in the Valley, this year's Rum Runner Days has been one big bone of contention among people in southern Alberta. Feelings and opinions run the gamut from anger to apathy, resentment to relief.

After the initial announcement from council with the decision to "defer" the fireworks, a storm of protest, anger and disappointment erupted and petitions and protests were organized.

Several of those protesting the cancellation turned up at the next Rum Runner Days committee meeting and after initially voicing their displeasure with the cancellation, vowed to work with the committee to help continue providing the remaining events.

Four months later, most of those same protestors have gone back to their lives and the work of carrying on with the festival has been left to a handful of volunteers.

There are many who believe the cancellation of the fireworks makes the entire Rum Runner Days festival pointless.

No one has a crystal ball to predict exactly how the event will unfold or how many people will show up. No doubt on Monday morning, many will be able to say it went exactly as they thought.

It will be smaller, probably, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth holding and it doesn't mean it isn't worth attending.

The original concept back in the 1980's was to remember the historical legacy of the Pass, to celebrate how events shaped its people, and to provide the community with its own unique day of festivities. This is no less true today.

Whether you share in the disappointment over the fireworks' cancellation or not, a small number of people have worked very hard to continue this tradition. We would like to thank all the volunteers who stepped up to the plate and made the event happen - regardless of how it turns out.