City hands out $120K in Heart of Our City grants
Grants to be used for 24 downtown events in 2018
Amajor grant announcement on Thursday will ensure the heart of downtown Lethbridge continues to beat strong. The City of Lethbridge’s Heart of Our City Committee announced the recipients for the HOC Activity Grants for 2018, awarding $120,000 in grants for 24 events to be held in downtown Lethbridge.
There is a mixture of popular annual events, as well as several new ones, including 13 multiple-day events and 11 single-day events. Grant amounts range from $500 up to $9,000.
“The Heart of Our City Committee, basically a standing committee of city council, recognized that to help the downtown revitalize it’s really important to draw people into the downtown to have something special for them to do,” said George Kuhl, the City’s Planning Initiatives Manager. “There are a lot of business connections and things like that we try to enhance, but it’s really important the citizens overall have a place they can identify with and lots of events downtown that kind of help make a stronger community.”
The grant program has grown since its inception in 2011. So, too, has the number of people frequenting the downtown core.
In 2011, there were about 20,000 participants between about seven different events. Now they’re up to 24 events and they hope to attract about 60,000 people to them.
There is something for everyone on the list, from family oriented activities to events just for the adult crowd. The events will take place every month of the year.
The program has been so successful that council has increased the annual funding several times — from $35,000 in 2011 to $120,000 for 2018.
“That’s allowed us to basically grow with the demand for the folks who want to sponsor events and festivals in the downtown,” said Kuhl.
The deadline for applications for 2018 grants was Oct. 31. Applications were assessed for merit and grants have been awarded by the Heart of Our City Committee in consultation with the City’s Community Services department, the Office of the City Clerk and a citizen member at large.
“We’re looking for a good alignment with what the Heart of Our City stands for and that is an inclusive downtown. We want a vibrant downtown; we want an exciting downtown,” said Kuhl. New events receiving HOC Activity Grant funds for 2018 include:
• Adventure in Nature guest speaker presentation (Date TBA);
• Party on the Square celebration of Casa’s fifth anniversary (May 12);
• Cartoonist in Residence with Eric Dyck at downtown Farmers’ Market (July 4, 11, 25 and Aug. 8 & 22); • AppleFest! (Aug. 11); and • FlipFest multi-venue music and arts festival (Aug. 24-26). Returning events include:
• Lunch & Listen Concert Series (various dates from Jan. 5-Dec. 7);
• SOS Film Centre Presents: Queen Scarlet Cinema series at Casa (various dates from Jan. 17-Nov. 21);
• Newcomer’s Welcoming Event at the Multicultural Centre (Feb. 6); • YMCA’s Family Day Event (Feb. 19); • Pretty, Witty & Gay Festival (Feb. 27-March 3);
• Feel the Beat by the Lethbridge Symphony (May 9-11); • Bike-In Film Night at Galt Gardens (May 30); • Jazz at the Park (June 16); • Family Centre’s Father’s Day Barbecue (June 17); • Pride Fest (June 22-23); • Shakespeare in the Park (June 28-Aug. 10); • Centric Music Fest (July 6-8); • Wide Skies Music & Arts Festival (July 2526);
• Hit Parade: New West Theatre music-comedy revue (Aug. 7-25);
• Lethbridge Electronic Music Festival (Aug. 18); • Love & Records (Sept. 15); • Arts Days (Sept. 22-30); • Word on the Street Festival (Sept. 22); and • Bright Lights Festival (Nov. 16-17). For more details, visit www.lethbridge.ca/HeartofOurCity.
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