"Why don't you host a big event, so we can come visit your hash?" Over and over again we've heard this question from many a hasher. From our early hashing road trips to San Francisco for the Bay to Breakers weekend, to the Interhash pre-ramble ferry to Tasmania in 2000, the committee members of the IH2006 EdmONtON bid had heard the message loud and clear - "Hashers want to visit Canada".

Edmonton hashers have traveled extensively. We traditionally send a contingent to most major regional and international events. Our colorful and imaginative t-shirts have been much sought after (we never have any left even for ourselves when we return). We have enjoyed wonderful hash-pitality while traveling and have always made a strong effort to make any visitor to Edmonton feel welcome as well. Over and over again, our new found friends asked us the same thing - 'host a big event so that we can come visit and hash with you."

Granted Edmonton is not your typical tourist destination. We get a large number of conventions and conferences which brings the occasional hasher to our fair city, yet we are not on the normal international hashing trail. Those that do make the trip are greatly rewarded when they get the chance to sample some of Western Canada's best hashpitality and when they take the opportunity to visit the nearby, majestic Rocky Mountains. Once in the mountains, the recreational opportunities are endless.

Yet, there is still much more to the province of Alberta, than just its capital city of Edmonton. After spending time in the Rockies, there are so many other beautiful and affordable destinations: visit the buffalos in Elk Island National Park; see the Tyrell Dinosaur museum near Drumheller; take in the world-famous Calgary Stampede & Rodeo; hike or golf in Kananaskis Country or take a step back in history at one of the many heritage sites around Alberta.

You’ll find hashers all over the province. Mike "Oombala" Carr of the Jakarta H3 founded the first hash in Canada in Calgary, Alberta in May 1983. Since then others have started hashes in Red Deer, Peace River, Canmore, St. Albert and of course, Edmonton. Today, there are well over 500 active hashers in the province.

We have been working on the bid for IH2006 since Tasmania in 2000. We were impressed by how good an event that they had put on. It was a great party and a beautiful place to visit. As we traveled before and after Tassie, it struck us Tasmania was very similar to Alberta in many ways, with its interesting and varied terrain; friendly people and somewhat remote location. It is not impossible to get to Tassie or Alberta, yet they are clearly not on beaten path. We surmised that if 4000 interhashers could make it to Hobart then we should be able to get a similar number to "come on-on up" to Edmonton.

It takes more than a beautiful place or an interesting destination to host an interhash event - it takes a highly dis-organized, under-beered, over-worked, mis-management committee. The Edmonton hash has a huge volunteer base that has contributed to many a successful event over the past 12 years: CanaHash, Red Dress Run, Northwest Hashage, and Hash Til You Drop to name a few. Interhash EdmONtON 2006 has been working hard since 2000 to plan and prepare to bring the hashing world to Canada. We have over 40 run sites established that should please all ranges of runners and walkers. We have a long established relationship with our national brewery, Molson's that will ensure that the golden nectar will flow continuously. We have a great venue that will be flexible enough to handle from 2,000 to 8,000. We will have a wide range of food choices that should please all ethnic persuasions. We have a wide range of accommodation options from backpackers to five-star hotels and everything in between.

It's time to bring Interhash to Canada. It has never been to the Americas (North or South). EdmONtON is the place to host it. We have the plan. We have the 'piss''. We have the place. We have the people. When you get to Cardiff, please mark your vote for Interhash EdmONtON in 2006.

Come On-On Up EHHH!!!
On-On to Cardiff 2004 and EdmONtON 2006
Joel “Mr. PeeeeeNut” Regenstreif
http://www.ihash2006.com/

BIO:
Joel “Mr. PeeeeeNut” Regenstreif has hashed over 400 runs with the EHHH since in 1993. As one of EdmONtON’s HASH-amb-ASS-adors, Mr. PeeeeeNut has hashed across Canada, USA, Australia and Malaysia running with over 200 other kennels. He recently married “Bump N Grind” from the Toontown HHH in Saskatoon and this past year they welcomed to the circle a baby girl - “Guzzler”.

• Start the bid process early. We have been working on the bid for IH2006 since Tasmania in 2000.
• Establish a large base of volunteers. We have a huge volunteer base that has contributed to many a successful event over the past 12 years, including CanaHash, Red Dress Run, Northwest Hashage, and Hash Til You Drop, just to name a few.
• Dispatch missionaries throughout the world. Edmonton hashers have traveled extensively. We traditionally send a contingent to most major regional and international events who distribute our colorful and imaginative T-shirts.
• Establish key working relationships. In Edmonton, for example, we are fortunate to have a long established relationship with our national brewery, Molson’s. This will ensure that that the golden nectar will flow continuously when we host IH2006.