Tourism from the ground up

Representatives from some of the festivals were on hand June 17 to thank the Region of Queens Municipality for supporting their various events both monetarily and through the work of staff. Those who couldn’t make it, such as Doreen Holdright of the Queens County Fair in Caledonia, relayed their thanks. Mayor John Leefe represented the Region.

Brian Fralic, Privateer Days, said cooperation is essential. “The festivals have to get together to use each other’s resources to promote all festivals in Queens Co.”

The volunteers hope all festivals and other organizations from throughout the county will join the group, tentatively called Queens County Festivals and Events.

Mayor Leefe said, “This is a great initiative and something that started from the ground up.”

The group expects to announce soon the hiring of a Festival Coordinator. They have already gone through the hiring process for the six-month position, one members hope they can make permanent by demonstrating the benefits to residents, businesses and government of the volunteer groups working together.

Clair Chandler, Queens County SeaFest, explained, “When it comes to festivals and events, you’re looking at 12 months per year of work.”

They also attended Saltscapes Expo to showcase Queens’ attractions.

The group is still in the preliminary planning stages. They want to develop a portfolio, promote and partner with local businesses, utilize social networking more thoroughly, and ensure as many Queens Co. services, businesses and organizations benefit from the industry as possible.

Fralic said, “We’re hoping once we get this altogether and the person is in place that we’ll be able to attract other festivals as well.”

He added, “We can do anything once we put this in place. This is putting it in place.”

In addition, anything related to festivals and tourism in general, from small to large, will be discussed. An example could be the music tent most festivals use. It is now rented.

They are also looking to partner as a group with the Region of Queens in addition to regional, provincial and national tourism entities to market the county on an even larger scale than present.

Mayor John Leefe said Queens Place recreation and cultural centre, once constructed, could greatly benefit the industry.

Donna Wamboldt, Hank Snow Music Centre Society Coordinator, said she hopes Queens Place will allow the Hank Snow Society to bring the popular Hank Snow Tribute back to Liverpool in time for its 20th anniversary in 2010. For space reasons, it is currently held in Bridgewater.

Mayor Leefe said they are currently negotiating for a provincial government funding top-up and getting firm Queens Place capital costs in place for a future public meeting. “We’re hoping the new government (NDP) will be more generous than the outgoing government.”

Mayor Leefe also said the Region continues to benefit festivals in addition to other cultural and entertainment events by providing, on average, about $60,000 in funding to the Astor Theatre each year.

The South Queens Chamber of Commerce’s new Tourism Committee is working on bringing more businesses into the fold to ensure all benefit from and realize the present benefits of the industry.

Mayor Leefe said this is imperative as is ensuring residents realize how much they gain not only monetarily because businesses pay taxes but also because “it opens us up to the broader world.”

The groups receiving funds include: Greenfield and Area, Citizens on Patrol; Hank Snow Society, (Friends of); King’s Orange Rangers; Liverpool Canada Day Committee 2009; North Queens Board of Trade Canada Day 2009; Liverpool Ukulele Ceilidh Society; Mersey Band Society; Milton Heritage Society; North Queens Heritage Society; Port Joli Basin Conservation Society; Privateer Days Commission; Queens County Amateur Radio Club; Queens Co. Senior Safety Program; Queens County Fair Association; Queens County Museum; Queens Early Childhood Development Assoc.; Queens County SeaFest; and Special Olympics Lunenburg/Queens.