By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle

Eight Osoyoos community groups have asked for more than $112,000 in funding for events in 2023, far exceeding the available funding. 

The total requests are more than four times the $27,253 available through the Visitor Activity Enhancement program. 

For 2023 a total of $67,253 was available but $40,000 had already been committed by the previous council in September 2022. 

This was allocated to the Community Celebration Spring BBQ at Gyro Park ($5,000); Festival of Trees ($3,000); and Community Winter Market ($6,000).

“The unfortunate part is it’s been such a great thing for the community it’s totally over subscribed for the funding that’s available. That’s our challenge,” said Jim Zakall, Director of Finance in his presentation to council.

Due to the town’s unique resort status it is eligible for provincial funding to be spent according to its Resort Development Strategy. 

The province’s Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) provides annual funding for tourism-related capital projects and for operational expenses intended to enhance visitor experience in the community. 

This includes the development and production of festivals, events, and entertainment.

Last year saw a bumper amount with $74,386 carried forward from 2021 due to the pandemic. Annual funding in the 2022-2024 Resort Development Strategy is up to $25,000 per year.

Zakall said the sheer number and quality of festivities proposed made it difficult for staff to make recommendations to council. 

He suggested they be forwarded to the Grant and Aid Committee to make recommendations to council “to be fair to these organizations.” 

Councillor Johnny Cheong asked if there was any stipulation for financial statements or other transparency requirements to ensure the funding is being used accordingly. 

Zakall said the community groups report on their activities and fundraising and cited the example of Music in the Park which provides receipts for all its expenses.

Ten per cent of the grant money is withheld for each group and once statements have been provided following the event, the town releases this remainder, Mayor Sue McKortoff advised. 

Cheong also highlighted the fact that most of the groups undertake fundraising of one sort or another, except for Music in the Park and the Osoyoos Tennis Club. He suggested that these groups be “encouraged” to undertake some form of fundraising.

In response to Cheong’s comments on Music in the Park, McKortoff noted that it is really not one event, but 12 because it stretches through the entire summer. And as one of the largest attended events the intent has always been to keep it free, she noted.

Zakall added that “you want these festivities to be partially sustainable and not be 100 per cent reliant on town money or grant monies. 

The majority of these groups have done fundraising and it’s good to limit the amount of funding that’s given out. If they want to have that event at a certain level they do the work to get extra money raised.” 

McKortoff suggested this issue of fundraising is something the committee “can look at when they do the analysis.” The committee will be organized by Gerald Davis, the town’s Director of Community Services.

Funding requests were received from the following groups:

  •  Osoyoos & District Arts Council – Osoyoos Spring Festival ($10,000)
  • Osoyoos Lake Paddling Club – Flag Race Festival ($6,000)
  • Wide Arts National Association (WANA) – All Hallows Festival ($21,000) and Osoyoos Artisan Christmas Market ($10,000)
  • Osoyoos Music in the Park ($30,348)
  • Desert Pickleball Club – Fun in the Sun Pickleball Tournament ($10,000)
  • South Okanagan Similkameen Pride Society – Pride Arts Festival ($10,000)
  • Osoyoos Tennis Club – Practice area Tennis Courts ($10,000)
  • Town of Osoyoos – 2023 Spring BBQ ($5,000)