The chair of one of the biggest festivals in Coquitlam says he’s struck a committee to look at relocating the event to the south side of Town Centre Park.
Last November, Mike Chisholm warned city council that his group was looking for other Lower Mainland sites for the BC Highland and Scottish Festival after the city awarded less than $12,000 for the 2018 games and competition, a major tourism attraction.
Chisholm told The Tri-City News that his group needs $10,000 more to break even and he plans to meet with city officials this week to talk about funding.
One idea to cut costs, he said, is to move the fest from Percy Perry Stadium, which he said is expensive and limited, to the grassy plaza area, on the east side of Lafarge Lake — where the city holds its Canada Day and Kaleidoscope parties — in 2019. “We continue to look for an area where we can make money and save money” while also seeking other sponsors, he said. “The plaza is our first choice for relocation.”
He added, “The city has indicated they want to work with us to ensure this works.”
Mary Morrison-Clark, Coquitlam’s manager of community, recreation and cultural services, said yesterday (Monday) her events team will figure out how the festival committee can make the most of its Spirit Grant bids.
In the last intake round, for example, it failed to apply for basic capital items such as tent rentals, which cost $30,000, and other city permit fees. If successful at the March Spirit Grant intake, the extra funding could be used for this year’s Games.
As well, Morrison-Clark said her team is considering moving a few Games events to the plaza area for this year as a trial run. “It’s all in the preliminary stages,” she said.
Should the city money not come through, Chisholm said, his group will need to consider scaling down the festival and cutting programs.
For the past 20 years, the Games have been held in Coquitlam and draw up to 10,000 visitors from around B.C. and the U.S. (66% from the Tri-Cities) to hear pipers and drummers, and to watch dancers and heavy events such as Caber tossing.
• The 2018 BC Highland Games and Scottish Festival are on June 16 at Percy Perry Stadium. Visit bchighlandgames.com for tickets and volunteering opportunities.
