Together Again made possible by $379K from the feds

A federal grant to stage a festival Saturday and bolster community spirit after a long haul through the pandemic is worth $379,000, the News has learned.

This weekend’s “Together Again” festival will feature four high-profile, out-of-town musical acts, along with local artists, on a stage set up on a downtown street.

Also on the itinerary is a local vendors market, end of the night fireworks, a dinner on the deck of Finlay Bridge and other events in the city centre throughout the day.

A portion of the money will be used to pay for two projects to reflect and record the coronavirus pandemic experience in Medicine Hat in the city’s historical holdings.

“We’ve designed this to have a big impact in the community,” said Aaron Nelson, manager of community development.

His office applied for the federal grant, available through the Ministry of Canadian Heritage, and was approved in early summer.

“There is a rock concert aspect, but also some things that will leave a more lasting impact.”

The city will add about $37,000 of local money to the event’s budget, money that comes from an existing fund to stage smaller events this autumn.

Federal cash will cover security, cost of entertainment, staging the event, said Nelson, as well as cover the city’s cost of having transit operate without fares throughout the city that day.

As well, parking will be free of charge on city-controlled lots in the city centre.

The money from Ottawa is the largest in memory for a non-construction project in the city.

The hope is to provide a public event free of charge as well as drive activity in the downtown — a priority of the last several council groups.

“For the last few years, there have been less opportunities to get out, or go to festivals, so we think it’s a great thing for the community,” said James Will, acting public services director, at the division’s committee meeting on Monday.

“The purpose is to come together again and connect the community, build resiliency, empathy, promote economic stimulus and renew connections.”

Committee members said the community can expect a good event, with a variety and range of entertainment and covered by grant funding.

“In my house, we’re very excited to get out and hear the performers,” said chair Coun. Ramona Robins.

Committee also heard about 50 vendors had been booked, and Hatters would also get their first glimpse of the time capsule and community portrait projects.

This summer administrators recommended the projects stating their combined cost to be about $62,000. Officials with the Esplanade Archives are also collecting text and electronic interviews regarding pandemic experience to add to the city’s permanent collection.

The event will see a main stage set up between the Medicine Hat Public Library and the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre on the 400 block of First Street.

A ceremony to dedicate the Cenotaph in Riverside Veterans Memorial Park as a municipal historic resource will also take place at

4:30 p.m. That will be followed at the park’s bandshell with a greeting celebration for those residents that have recently become Canadian citizens.

Council members also expressed support for a promotions contract for the event, which was awarded to London Road Marketing.