Tourism increase approved, further report coming on Open Air Weekends

By Ron Giofu

Town council has approved an additional $80,000 in the tourism budget for “community programming,” one of which includes Open Air Weekends.

But what form will Open Air Weekends take this year?

As part of the 2023 operating budget deliberations, town council greenlighted an additional $80,000 for programming. Broken down, that includes $16,500 due to a 15 per cent increase in materials and operating costs on 2022 approved events, $8,500 for the return of the TRUE Festival as that was not included in the 2022 budget, $4,500 in Amherstburg’s Gone Car Crazy costs not included in the 2022 budget, $3,000 to cover policing costs for the Amherstburg Santa Claus Parade, $15,000 for Truth & Reconciliation event funding which was not part of the 2022 budget, $25,000 for the River Lights Winter Festival including maintenance of existing displays and a contingency amount of $7,500.

That meant leaving existing Open Air Weekends funding alone, with manager of tourism and culture Anne Rota stating it takes about $22,000-$30,000 to put on annually. Grant funding helps cover some of the costs of that event and others, she indicated.

Councillor Peter Courtney questioned the overall $80,000 increase, with Rota explaining they have to budget for the festivals they wish to put on in order to apply for grants.

“The tourism department is a bit of an anomaly,” she said.

If funding were to have been reduced, Rota indicated it would have meant council would have to cut back on events.

“It is up to council to decide what do you want to come off of the table?” she said.

“I wouldn’t want to take anything away,” responded Courtney. “We do host amazing events.”

Courtney called for a business plan on Open Air Weekends, with the report to look at various options including shortening it from three days to two or one day per weekend, tying it in with festivals, reducing how many times per month it is held and other ways to present the event.

Deputy CAO/director of development services Melissa Osborne referenced delegates from the Tuesday evening portion of budget deliberations which stated 38 jobs have been created. She added there is a spinoff effect to that. Osborne continued by stating if a hotel were to locate in Amherstburg, they would look at such things as festivals and community events and how they would fill rooms.

“They are looking at these numbers quite carefully,” she said.

Courtney believed the town is using tax dollars “for a select footprint” when it comes to Open Air and Rota countered the $22,000-$30,000 spent by the town “is a significantly small amount for the return on investment.”

Councillor Molly Allaire also wanted to see costs if Open Air Weekends were cut to a one or two-day event. While stating “I love events” and “Open Air is a successful event,” Allaire didn’t vote for the additional $80,000 for the tourism budget.

Councillor Diane Pouget said with no COVID-19 restrictions anymore, businesses would rebound anyway. She believed Open Air creates barriers for people with disabilities, a point she raised on both days of operational budget deliberations. She referenced