THE BALLOON MAN

The fair life is a fun life

 

Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy
West Coast Amusements crew supervisor Brian Mann works on a flat tire on the Sooper Jet ride at the Hometown Fair at the Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds on Friday.
Published on June 22, 2012
from- mytimes.sk.ca
by Lisa Goudy 
June 22, 2012
The appeal of fun, sun and travel was what motivated Brian Mann to get a job at the fair at age 19.
Now, almost 30 years later, Mann loves his career with West Coast Amusements more than he did when he started.
“We used to get a hard time everywhere we went, but now people are starting to appreciate us and knowing that we’re there for them. You know, we’re here just to let the people have fun,” said Mann, who was born and raised in Comox, B.C. “It was smaller back then. Now we’re bigger. (It’s better) with the technology, the way the rides have evolved.”
Friday was the first day of the Hometown Fair in Moose Jaw at the Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds. The fair continues until Sunday. The fair is open from 9 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. The midway is operational from noon to midnight on Saturday and from noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday.
Mann is crew supervisor. He said he deals with maintenance, helps with set-up and trains other people on proper ride procedures. In the winter, he said, he paints the West Coast Amusement trucks and many of the rides. He said his favourite part of the job is travelling and meeting new people.
“For six months we travel. For six months we work in our shop,” said Mann. “It’s just an all-year round thing for me.”