City frowns on singer’s overnight fundraiser
Kiermacz says she’s unwilling to pay for permit to use Montebello Park
Niagara singer/songwriter Ola Kiermacz made a promise that if her new charity single for Niagara’s Out of the Cold program raised more than her previous one, she’d spend a winter night outside at Montebello Park.
Sure enough, her Holiday song “On That Star” raised $2,500 last month — $500 more than her 2018 tune “Write You a Card.” Now, even with temperatures expected to plummet the next few days, she’s keeping her promise: Kiermacz will spend the night at Montebello Park Sunday, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., while accepting more donations for Out of the Cold.
Only one problem, she said: City of St. Catharines said she must sign a special event permit to use Montebello Park for the night. Which has her perplexed, because she’s raising money to help Niagara’s homeless.
“In no way am I attacking the city,
it’s just this completely goes against what I’m doing,” said Kiermacz. “I understand they’re trying to do things proper … however, my request is, ‘Can you wave it?’ ”
“Park Rentals” on the city website lists rental rates for any of the city’s seven parks. Up to 49 people, it costs $93 plus insurance.
Because of the nature of her fundraiser, Kiermacz has told the city she’s “not willing” to pay it.
“There have been third parties offering to pay it, but I’m not going to pay it,” she said. “I’m not going to give in to that. What I’m trying to support they’re ironically charging me for.”
Phil Cristi, the city’s director of community, recreation and culture, believes there’s a misunderstanding: The city does not provide permits for overnight events in the park because the city has a policy banning overnight stays in its parks.
“That’s not something we would promote or expect people to do,” he said. “If people do that, on their own, we don’t supervise those parks (or) have staff that work overnight. We’re going to have a conversation with Ola and figure out exactly what she wants to do, where she wants to do it. Maybe we can offer an alternative spot for her.”