Council refers $400K WFOL request to May budget talks
Festival already getting $342,000 from city
City council has referred a $400,000 request from Winter Festival of Lights to its May 8 meeting, where politicians are expected to consider funding certain projects through a casino-hosting reserve fund.
But not everyone was in agreement the festival should receive the $400,000.
The request is in addition to $342,000 the city allocates to the festival as a fee-for-service out of its operating budget.
Coun. Carolynn Ioannoni said while she supports the festival, other groups the city supports have been told not to come to council with a budget increase.
“I don’t have any problem funding the original monies that we fund every year, (but) I’m not going to support that additional $400,000.”
The operating budget is scheduled to go before council at the March 27 meeting.
The $400,000 request is to support additional offerings by the festival, including a new Cascades of Fire international fireworks competition.
Tina Myers, executive director of the festival, said the agency has applied for grants to launch the competition this year.
She said the plan is for an annual, multiday competition over the Horseshoe Falls.
The competition would take place during three weekends in November, featuring teams from around the world.
“Imagine 18-minute shows, synchronized to music, with the firing site spreading across the entire International Control Dam. What a sight this would be.”
Myers said the festival will bring back illuminated public art this year, as well as Prismatica and the 84-foot-long light tunnel.
Myers said the festival will offer a stage to light artists from around the world who want to present their art for a limited time.
“The light art will consist of six-to-eight exhibits, featuring both one-of-a-kind displays, as well as others from Amsterdam Light Festival. By showcasing these unique artistic displays in Niagara Falls, we expect to attract new art- enthused tourists and visitors.”
She said the festival will work with Fallsview Events Group to present a special event with chef Michael Smith.
During the festival’s inaugural year in 1982, 250,000 people and 40 motor coaches attended, she said.
Since then, numbers and publicity has grown “tremendously.”
“To date, the festival brings in over 1.3-million visitors with an economic impact of over $48 million and an estimated $63 million in new spending,” she said.
The number of vehicles through Dufferin Islands increased 7.7 per cent from last year, while tour-bus traffic increased eight per cent.
Coun. Mike Strange said the festival has helped to make Niagara Falls not just a summer destination, but also a winter destination.
“It’s attracting many more people and they’re not staying for one day now, they’re staying for three or four days.”
Coun. Victor Pietrangelo said the city’s investment is leading to a “greater economic impact.”
“I like the idea of the Cascades of Fire. I remember something similar at Ontario Place years ago and that brought in a lot of people.
It’s great to see that Niagara Falls is getting on the map with world-class performances such as this.”
Ioannoni said since New Year’s Eve, the city has been “trying to fund, house and feed homeless people.”
“I have a problem not making them a priority also and if you’re told to come back with zero increase for agencies that are important for people just to eat in our community, I have a problem increasing things for entertainment.”
Coun. Kim Craitor said he supports moving the $400,000 festival request to the May meeting, but that a petition and request from residents on Culp Street for necessary, but unfunded, infrastructure projects in their neighbourhood should also be considered.