Organizers of Canada Day celebrations in West B次元官网网址 will get a little more help from taxpayers this year, but not as much as they鈥檇 hoped.听
The volunteer group put forward a request for $41,000, up substantially from the $25,000 it has received in recent years. No particular reason for the boost was given in a report considered by councillors at this weekB次元官网网址 meeting.听
Some councillors wanted to keep the support at $25,000, saying the city hadn鈥檛 received much information from the Westside Celebration Society about its plans for this year's Westside Daze festival and in years to come.听
鈥淚鈥檇 like to get a better picture of whatB次元官网网址 being planned for this year,鈥 Coun. Rick DeJong said. 鈥淔or this year, I want to hold tight at $25,000.鈥
But Coun. Stephen Johnston said it was reasonable for the group to ask for more money for the Westside Daze festival, which occurs around the Canada Day holiday, given the inflationary cycle.
"We all know that the cost of everything has increased dramatically, so the expense of running these events has also increased,鈥 Johnston said. His suggestion the grant be raised by a more modest amount than requested, to $30,000, was approved by council.听
Popular events during Westside Daze in early July include a parade, live entertainment, a big cake-cutting, a midway, a drone show, and wrestling matches.
A variety of community groups had requested a total of $213,000 in city funding, up from the $115,000 the city made available last year. Some of the groups were making their first funding request, while others were providing a first-time application.听
鈥淭hereB次元官网网址 some very meaningful and worthy applications but we鈥檙e facing a scarcity of funds this year and I just believe it would be appropriate to basically renew the requests we supported last year,鈥 said Mayor Gord Milsom.听
With a couple minor revisions, the total for this yearB次元官网网址 funding of community groups will be $116,500, essentially the same as in 2024.