The wildly popular Chase the Ace fundraiser has attracted so many people to Inverness, N.S. that organizers have delayed the draw for a week due to security concerns.
“It's the volume of people that's really causing all of this,” said organizer Cameron MacQuarrie. “For the volume of RCMP members, the volume of requirements for traffic restrictions is changing and our community has to adapt to it.”
More than 8,000 people travelled to the community in hopes of winning $1 million Saturday. Though businesses and charities are benefitting from the draw, the problem now is where to put everyone as the jackpot grows.
“One very realistic possibility is to have a larger parking space outside of the village,” said MacQuarrie. “Then have shuttles or transit buses pick those people up and take them in.”
Inverness has a population of just over 1,500. The streets were so congested over the weekend that RCMP officers had trouble getting the winner to thelegion to claim her prize.
“I know transportation infrastructure and renewal counted 4,000 vehicles coming into town that day,” said Sgt. Shelby Miller of Inverness RCMP.
With just six cards remaining and the prize amount growing, the RCMP are calling in additional officers off the island as they expect crowds to exceed 15,000.
“We’ll go off the island and deal with Northeast Nova and bring those resources in to effectively police the event,” said Miller.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kyle Moore.
