The City of Richmond could spend $775,000 on community events, big and small, next year.
The city’s biggest event, the Salmon Festival on Canada Day, however, could need an extra $100,000 as provincial funding isn’t expected this year, according to a city staff report.
Provincial funding was a one-time grant thanks to the Fairs, Festivals and Events Recovery Fund to help communities safely return to events after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Salmon Festival received $45,000 federal, $107,780 provincial, and $9,000 community-level funding in 2022.
In addition to the festival, proposed events for next year include the annual Children’s Arts Festival, Richmond Cherry Blossom Festival, Doors Open Richmond, Steveston Salmon Festival and Richmond Maritime Festival.
City staff have also included a “visioning” for a Signature Multicultural Festival budget within the program. The multicultural celebration involves and represents “residents from the diverse cultural groups” as part of the city’s cultural harmony plan and the Richmond arts strategy, reads the report.
Funding was allocated for this project but was not spent as the “visioning process” did not finish in 2022.
The budget also includes the annual Neighbourhood Celebration Grants program, which benefits local community events.
Events from the city’s program provide “the opportunity for the community to connect, contribute, learn and celebrate together” while contributing to social and economic well-being, reads the report.
City staff proposed that $73,000 would come from funds available in the Major Events Provision and $702,000 from the Rate Stabilization Account for the events program.
The following are the proposed budgets:
- Children’s Arts Festival - $60,000
- Richmond Cherry Blossom Festival - $45,000
- Doors Open Richmond - $25,000
- Neighbourhood Celebration Grants Program - $75,000
- Steveston Salmon Festival and Canada Day - $300,000
- Richmond Maritime Festival - $200,000
- Food security through community-driven events - $30,000
- Signature Multicultural Festival - $40,000
There is an increase in the proposed budgets for the Richmond Cherry Blossom Festival ($10,000), Doors Open Richmond ($5,000), and Steveston Salmon Festival ($100,000) in comparison to last year.
Budgets for the other events remain the same.
City council will decide at Monday’s meeting whether to approve move proposed program of events and budget for next year.
-with files from Alan Campbell
