Region trying to save sports commission
Niagara Region will be looking for ways to help get Niagara Sport Commission up and running again.
“How does it close its doors and put a sign upon its window, and no one on this particular council is aware of it within the last 24 hours? It’s distressing,” said Fort Erie Coun. Sandy Annunziata at Thursday night’s regional council meeting.
“It demands answers to the questions that I have and certainly a lot of people have, and it’s prudent upon this council to get those answers, and see if we can contribute, see if we can help and what kind of contribution that looks like.”
Niagara Sport Commission shuttered its Thorold office on Nov. 7, posting a notice on its door that the closure was due to an inability to secure funding.
St. Catharines Coun. Tim Rigby introduced a motion directing regional staff to work with Niagara Sport Commission representatives to determine if there are opportunities to assist the organization and the 2018 FIBA Boys U- 18 Americans Basketball Championship taking place next summer, and that options be presented at the Region’s Dec. 7 budget review committee meeting.
Although the motion was not on Thursday’s agenda, Regional Chair Alan Caslin said an “urgent matter has come to our attention that needs to be discussed.”
Rigby said the commission had been very busy helping with the Pan Am Games bid as well as the successful bid for the 2021 Canada Summer Games.
But the organization has since “run into financial difficulties and they had to dissolve.”
“I think it’s worthwhile to know how we can go forward, and how we can help and how we can be involved as well,” Rigby said.
Annunziata said as recently as Nov. 3, the organization was posting on social media, “excited about the FIBA youth 18 championships occurring at Meridian Centre.”
“Again, economic drivers in the form of athletic competition is important to our economy, it’s important to our tourism sector, and it’s important to the credibility of this council,” he said.
Niagara Falls Coun. Bob Gale urged a cautious approach to the issue.
“I have a real problem with supporting and partnering with anyone who has gone bankrupt. I’m glad we’re not putting any money into this, and hope the CAO takes full control of anything we’re doing here,” Gale said.
St. Catharines Coun. Andy Petrowski complained that the Region may need to provide funding for the organization.
“It seems again, surprise, surprise, we are the funder of last resort, as usual. I’m not supporting this without having the financial information about what happened to the Niagara Sport Commission in front of us.”
He said he’s not prepared to make any decisions about providing funding for the organization without more information.
“I’m not going to be moved by the threat that FIBA falls apart. I don’t even know when FIBA is.”
Caslin pointed out that the motion would not provide funding at this time, but would instruct staff to determine ways that the Region could help the organization.