Organizers sought for Canada Day festivities after Kemptville Campus bows out

Posted Jan 26, 2012 By Ashley Kulp

EMC News - For several years, University of Guelph, Kemptville Campus has hosted an afternoon of Canada Day festivities on its grounds, but it is now looking for someone else to step up and take over the reins.

The matter was discussed during the Jan. 16 Committee of the Whole council meeting where CAO Andy Brown indicated in his report that while Kemptville Campus isn't interested in planning or organizing the afternoon, it still wishes to be involved. It took over the planning after a community committee disbanded several years ago.

"They are willing to continue to be the host location, provide any catering requirements, the beer tent and rental stage, as well as do any ticket sales," Brown stated in his report.

In order to receive funding from the federal government to put towards Canada Day, the municipality still submitted its application by the Jan. 16 deadline, but Brown said there is much to do to continue the festivities at Kemptville Campus, which do not affect the Kemptville Rotary Club's Canada Day Parade, the Branch 212 Royal Canadian Legion's special breakfast or the Oxford Mills Community Association's activities on Canada Day.

He indicated a budget should be prepared and fundraising must be done to ensure marketing and advertising is done, as well as the planning of children's activities and entertainment, concessions and rental of rides, exhibitors and sponsorships, locations for picnic tables, barricades, garbage cans and temporary washroom facilities.

There is also the matter of security, fireworks and an information booth.

"It's my recommendation that we have a meeting and invite businesses and organizations to that meeting to see if there is interest in continuing forward for planning and organizing this event," Brown remarked.

"It's better to have this sooner rather than later," he added.

Ideally, Brown said, the creation of a community committee would work best in organizing the event, rather than municipal staff.

"The municipality could continue to provide funds for the fireworks and its in-kind services as in the past," he stated, adding that those services include barricades, picnic tables, garbage cans and assistance with logistics."

Councillor Barb Tobin said if the Kemptville Campus activities don't continue, there will still be plenty for residents to do on Canada Day.

"The Oxford Mills Community Association, Rotary Club and Legion events will all still go on and if someone doesn't take on doing something more at the campus or in Riverside Park, we will still also have fireworks and are applying for the federal grant," she commented.

Though a date wasn't set at the meeting, it will be advertised in the near future. Please watch the Advance for further updates.

In past years, Kemptville Campus has held an afternoon celebration of activities for residents on Canada Day, which included a barbecue, live entertainment, children's activities, concessions, crafters and exhibitors area, a volleyball tournament, as well as a colourful fireworks display, taking place at dusk.

akulp@perfprint.ca