The message was clear: Huntsville Town Council must find a way to fund event tourism marketing or risk setting the Town back years in the event tourism realm and in quality of life. If there was an opposing view in the audience of about 200, it was not expressed.
Last night (January 19) for almost two and a half hours, area residents and business owners took turns telling Council why event tourism, and particularly Ironman Muskoka, are important to the community. Speakers were polite. They were also eloquent and passionate. The time passed quickly as almost every speaker brought a new perspective to the forum. It was obvious that the speeches were not orchestrated but interestingly a common phrase started to creep into each one. “Find another way,” Council was told time and time again.
At the crux of the meeting is $50,000, which the Town is proposing to cut from the Huntsville Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce community marketing initiative budget. In the past, the Chamber has used this money to leverage more money from government grants and to put on or support such events as Girlfriends’ Getaway Weekend, the Ontario Winter Games, Winter Comedy Carnival, Band on the Run, and En Plein Air, to name just a few.
The issue of whether or not to fund the Chamber quickly became a non-issue to those present at the meeting when Lake of Bays councillor Nancy Tapley asked how much $50,000 would cost on the local tax bill. The answer – about $1 per 100,000 of assessment – elicited gasps and then clapping from the audience who seemed surprised by the low cost.
Speeches about the early cancellation of Ironman Muskoka took over
Council took a verbal beating over the decision to cancel Ironman Muskoka. People were especially critical of the fact that the world-class event was cancelled without public or Ironman committee consultation and without the committee having the opportunity to address funding concerns.
Matthew Phillips, general manager for Holiday Inn Express, said had they known that Ironman was in trouble he has no doubt local hoteliers and restaurants would have come to the table.
I didn’t realize we were losing $100,000. If I had known that I would have given towards that. My owner, 100% would have given to it. I know other hotels in the area that would have donated to it.
Matthew Phillips, GM of Holiday Inn Express
Brandon Whitby, a highly successful triathlete and local cottager, opened Council’s eyes to what he thinks the community lost by giving up the Ironman. He asked council if they had heard of Penticton.
Penticton was the first place in Canada to host an Ironman Canada event. They had the second-longest-running Ironman event but in 2011 the town decided to forgo their contract with Ironman Canada and host it themselves. When I participated in 2011 there were 3000 at the start. This year that same event had less than 400 competitors. Nobody cares about Penticton anymore. Now it’s all about Whistler. That is the risk you guys took. Rather than be a panel of bureaucrats, you should be a panel of problem solvers.Brandon Whitby, triathlete and cottager
While volunteers, participants, organizers and local businesses had a go at Council over the sudden cancellation of Ironman, a prominent sponsor was also on hand to tell Council how the early termination of the contract affected the business she represents.
Pipefusion Services, a huge supporter of Town events, signed on as a three-year co-platinum sponsor. Their sponsorship was unique in that it required that they spend a lot of money in year one to build a swim-up coffee bar. At the time, it was an investment they were willing to make as it would continue to reap benefits in years two and three. As Libby Boucher, Vice President of Pipefusion Services explains it, that investment is now lost to them.
We jumped at the opportunity to showcase a unique product – the NyDock floating coffee boat. I think it is important for you to understand that a decision was made and we have invested our three-year commitment in the dock. We built it big intentionally and it can’t go off the lakes. Given what has happened it’s now difficult for a business to feel assured about a multi-year commitment. Apparently there is no guarantee that we will realize those returns.Libby Boucher, Vice President of Pipefusion Services
I’m sorry…
Appearing somewhat humbled by the comments of the evening Mayor Scott Aitchison took full responsibility for the decision made around the cancellation of Ironman. “I take full responsibility. I apologize for that.”
Reached later Aitchison said the meeting was helpful to Council. “It was a good start to defining what events we need to focus our energy and resources on to attract visitors and investment to our community. I am confident that it will further demonstrate to the business community the need for their participation financially in the success of marketing Huntsville.”
Council meets again on Monday, January 25 where they are expected to vote on the Town’s budget for 2016.
Dealing with the anti investment city of Huntsville has been my experience since building a home here. The cancellation of Ironman confirms that Huntsville is one of the most hostile places for people to invest in. The city is reported to be 3 million in debt and I surmise that this cancellation will have a ripple effect and discourage others to bypass this town for a more investment friendly environment. This news has gone viral and the whole world now knows that it is official ” do not invest in Huntsville” This will increase the debt to over 10 million and this it what it takes to change a culture that is firmly stuck in a long forgotten past. The towns of Elliot Lake and Collingwood have experienced the same near dead experience before a new culture of prosperity emerged and put out the red carpet for investors
. The cancellation is a step in the right direction to reach this point of no return.
It is too bad that the people who are so vociferous about the cancellation were not involved earlier with the event.Too many sit back and leave the hard work and funding too others and then wonder why these actions by council. Are necessary.Most who come for financial support from the Taxpayer have passion and believe wholeheartedly in what they want to do.The reality is that you cannot fund everything and if a event loses Taxpayer money then it must come under Council scrutiny.The Mayor need not apologize for doing his job.Those people who benefit should be there at the outset with offers of support not moaning about would /should have.Let us not forget about those persons who have difficulty paying Hydro bills let alone a significant tax increase. I understand the spend money to make money but let those who stand to profit cast the first cash.Hiatus for this year and let it be known that you will apply for reinstatement of the Race in 2017 when private financing can cover the costs.The Town should be a facilitator not a major source of funding.We really need to prioritize Wants VS Needs which should be the main focus of any Government spending.I sincerely hope that everyone’s want can be satisfied including the taxpayers needs for fiscal restraint.Constructive dialogue not blame is needed here.
I too believe that bringing visitors to our town is vital – we are a destination for many visitors. I am wondering however, how much the Chamber’s deficit from previous years weighed into the discussion. I am hoping the big loses suffered were only a “one of” due to many reasons. Because so many of the events we host are partially, if not totally, weather dependent there will be times when the best laid plans cannot be helped.
Perhaps the meeting was too late and horse has already run away.
I agree that there are tough decisions to be made. What needs to be emphasized is council campaigned to be voted in with the notion that they are willing and able to make those decisions in a responsible transparent manner. Now that it’s clear the world class events with international appeal should be on the agenda, council needs to pave the way to repair the damage that has been done. If they aren’t prepared to spearhead the initiative, then they need to not get in the way of those who are willing to do the work.
In reading the mayor’s inaugural address of 14 months ago, this meeting shouldn’t have been necessary if the points in that address were upheld. http://www.huntsville.ca/en/townhall/inauguraladdress.asp?_mid_=33202
I for one am willing to be involved in the effort to bring Ironman back to Huntsville. It needs to be planned/marketed and executed properly in order for the town, it’s residents, and it’s businesses to reap the rewards.
Now maybe council will get it. Sports and event tourism is an investment not an expenditure. Stop being
Short sighted. We started this over a decade ago and it is obvious residents and business get it.
Now get behind sports tourism and realize you are in competition with many other communities who get it. Try to sto the damage done by cancelling the ironman and threatening to take away spirt tourism funding.
You need to send positive message that Huntsville made a mistake and is back in sport and event tourism business.
Listening to the passionate stories and comments of our community made me very proud.
I was also impressed with the Town of Huntsville employees, the mayor and our councilors. Most Town counsels would not have called a town meeting like this. I can’t imagine it was fun for them. However, they presented the framework for the night and then they listened. They were respectful, humble and took responsibility for their actions.
The town has tough decisions to make every week. They won’t get them all perfect. Can we accept this invitation to work together and move forward.
Events have put Huntsville on the Map of Canada. When Huntsville sponsored the first triathlon in the late 1980’s, Huntsville hosted the provincial the next year, the Canadian the following year and a World Event the year after. Huntsville, for its size leads all Canadian towns in its initiatives of hosting, organizing events…. athletic, theatrical and recreational. This must continue…. hosting events will continue to attract more events and Huntsville will continue to be the best town in Canada!!
It was crystal clear and loud to me from last nights public forum what the united sentiment was with the citizens of Huntsville. We want large events in our community and we want them spearheaded by the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Lake Of Bays.
Our Mayor and Council now have a choice to make, listen to the people of the community that they serve and try to figure out how to get the $50,000 or .4% of the budget back to the Chamber for their vital and experienced work, or choose to ignore the strong sentiment of last nights public forum, ratify the proposed budget and allow Huntsville to slip into the commonality of what so many other Ontario communities have become.
As one speaker so eloquently stated last night “it won’t happen next week or next month but it will happen and it will happen in a very short while, whereby our identity, spirit and pride of community will be severely compromised”.
It is, however, not too late to save this ship. On reflecting over the honest and passionate statements made at last nights Council meeting I trust and hope that wisdom, character, and a long term vision on the Mayors and Councillors part can correct the budgetary short sightedness that they have initially taken and “make it right”. The community of Huntsville and our Chamber needs them to support our Chamber, please have the courage to change course and give our Chamber the full funding that our community deserves.
No spoken words ever rang more true for me than when my father once said “you will be known by the work you do” and I suspect with the “Ironman” in our rearview mirror…so shall ye!
It was quite clear by the public and business community that events should be a prime objective for Huntsville. I’d suggest that Huntsville create a mission statement for the initiative. Define the demographic that would be most appealing. It seemed to me that there’s a lack of focus to harvest the true potential of what the sport of triathlon and Ironman can bring to the community. Perhaps council doesn’t understand which lead to the rash decision without consultation from the community. If the Mayor didn’t pull the pin last week, I’m pretty sure from the cross section of attendees last night, a solution would have been found and the show would have gone on!.
So what’s next? Mr Mayor and council, what are you going to do to make this right? If no action plan is created from last night’s meeting, it’s truly a waste of time.
For what it’s worth, the chamber needs to be funded. It’s a small amount of money to keep Huntsville on the map.
An essentially muzzled council cannot be expected to be anything but quiet. The free thinkers will be out voted and must appear to have supported whatever that vote was.
I don’t believe that everyone saw 50k to be slashed. I am rather confident that a request for resident input, the low cost posed to ratepayers, the potential risk to future corporate sponsorship and the community relying on event tourism… were all expressed.
So, they sit silent facing a disappointed or angry public with the only comfort being, “I told you so.”
To be a free thinkers one must be free.
If you are a supporter of the Huntsville Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce you should be at the council meeting on Monday. Last night at the meeting I was stunned by the lack of response from council members for the most part they were eerily quiet which was a little unsettling. The only thought that went into potentially taking money off the table for the Chamber was let’s save $50k. There was no thought to how much economic benefit that 50k brings the town, it’s hotels, restaurants and merchants over a calendar year. There seems to be a lack of common sense at Town Hall….where are the free thinkers? The old adage you have to spend money to make money rings true to this date. See you at the council meeting Monday!