Fluvarium weathers financial challenges
Charitable foundation considering virtual Rennie’s River Duck Race fundraiser
It’s been just over a year since the charitable group responsible for operating the Fluvarium in St. John’s dealt with some significant financial challenges.
At that time, a major corporate sponsor decided not to renew its agreement with the Quidi Vidi Rennie’s River Development Foundation. The board managed to attract the attention of a philanthropist who helped fill the financial gap, and an artwork sale further aided the cause.
Last fall, local human resources company Puglisevich agreed to come on board as a new corporate sponsor, providing $40,000 annually for four years. Around the same time, a new executive director for the Fluvarium was hired.
A facility that delivers an environmental education program on freshwater systems to over 10,000 students annually across Newfoundland and Labrador, the Fluvarium’s financial footing has improved greatly over the last year, but the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges.
Like other non-essential businesses and sites throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, the Fluvarium has been closed since mid-march.
Coun. Jamie Korab is the City of St. John’s representative on the foundation’s board of directors (it received a $30,000 operating grant from the city in 2020). He told The Telegram that while the Fluvarium
could reopen to the public under Alert Level 3, which the province is expected to move into June 8, it will probably wait until at least some point in July, if not later. He noted there would still be major restrictions to contend with if the Fluvarium did reopen this month.
“Our executive director at the Fluvarium has had her finger on the pulse and she’s communicated with many of the community groups, and a lot of them are waiting until July,” Korab said. “Come July, there’ll be a better picture painted of what needs to be done. Hopefully we’re at a lower alert level, because right now it’s almost unfeasible come June 8 to bring staff and open the doors up. We’re still not 100 per cent sure what we can and cannot do.”
Getting people inside the building is important when it comes to revenue for the facility, which also hosts weddings, meetings and other public events in addition to hosting school field trips.
“No question, it’s been a major challenge for the Fluvarium, as well as other community groups and not-for-profit groups,” Korab said. “There’s lost revenue from people just visiting the centre. In the summertime, a lot of tourists come here when they look for things to do in St. John’s.”
The COVID-19 pandemic also threatens the foundation’s biggest annual fundraiser, the
Rennie’s River Duck Race. A public event that typically attracts large crowds, its premise seemingly would not fit with the times. In light of this, the foundation is looking to instead hold a virtual duck race.
“You can still get your tickets. We’re working through the lottery licence now with the provincial government, so we’re hoping to have that settled this week,” Korab said. “The virtual race could be done on Facebook . ... Without that money, it makes it challenging to keep the lights on and keep the programming where we want it to be.”
A number of staff members are temporarily laid off, with some remaining to look after administrative duties and tasks such as feeding fish and frogs. Online, short videos have been shared through the Fluvarium’s Facebook page to show what’s still happening on site while the facility is closed to the public.
Korab noted the foundation has obtained a federal-provincial grant for some virtual programming.
“It’s something then that once we get back and the doors are open and you can come in, it’s still a function and feature we can have for the classrooms,” he said. “We’re excited about that. COVID has had us ... rethink how you can reach different customers. It’ll be another avenue for us for revenue and to expose people to the ecosystem.”