A busy summer in Port Moody may just slightly less so with the potential loss of one free event.
A staff report recommends the annual mayor’s summer celebration that is scheduled for July 27 at city hall be cut.
The event, which includes a free barbecue, kids’ activities and live entertainment, attracts about 2,000 people. But Devin Jain, Port Moody’s manager of cultural services, said it’s similar to the city’s community fair, held at city hall in June, and comes too close to the annual car-free day, which this year is is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 18.
Jain said cutting the mayor’s celebration will also save Port Moody about $5,000 from its annual budget of more than $125,000 for city events. That money could then be put towards the community fair to make it bigger and better.
Other events organized by the city include a Canada Day celebration at Rocky Point Park that costs $41,000 and attracts about 10,000 people; car-free day, which has a budget of $35,680 and draws about 25,000 people to St. Johns Street; and the holiday Cheer at the Pier to celebrate the start of the Christmas season that attracts about 2,500 people and has a budget of $12,000.
Port Moody also participates at other events such as the PoMo Ecological Society's annual Fingerling Festival as well as Ioco Ghost Town Day, and hosts two volunteer appreciation dinners a year, one in the spring for community volunteers and another next January for those volunteers who serve on city committees.
The city also spends about $5,000 a year to support events and block parties put on by various community associations and neighbourhood groups.
