A $2,000 in-kind donation from Guelph-Eramosa Township might strengthen ties between the township and the Hillside Festival.
Councillors here were hoping that is the case when they approved actions by Manager of Parks and Recreation Robin Milne on April 4. He reported that his department received a call from festival organizers on March 31 with a last minute request for support for a partnership. The festival had received information about a grant opportunity that would allow it to extend the festival an additional evening – but the application deadline loomed.
Milne said in his report to council that a Thursday night performance would involve Hillside showcasing a big name act plus a performance from the First Nations Community with aboriginal performers from Australia.
He said he agreed to provide in-kind services that included offering advertising space in the township’s summer Newsletter, allowing linking opportunities through the township website, and providing meeting space at the Marden community centre and the new recreation centre there in non-prime time hours.
“Offering these two facilities for training purposes may also give these facilities exposure to potential clients,” Milne said in his report.
He noted the in-kind contribution would have no effect on the 2011 budget.
Mayor Chris White liked the idea. Even though the festival bills itself as being from Guelph, it is Guelph-Eramosa that is the site of it.
“It’s a big event,” said the mayor. “We need to start connecting with it.”
He added of any other type of donation, “It wasn’t the money … I knew we had none.”
Councillor John Scott wondered if a delegation should come from the festival to make a proposal to council.
But White said that the grant application was on a tight deadline. Council approved the proposal unanimously.
