Len Gauthier believes Orillia is an ideal place to host a wintertime festival of lights.
“I believe the city has the perfect spot at the waterfront for a wonderful festival of lights during the Christmas holiday season,” says Gauthier in a letter to city councillors. “I am sure … people would come from near and far just to take in the event.”
The employee at Orillia’s Home Hardware Building Centre says a festival of lights would be a great addition to the region’s impressive lineup of festivals.
“Coming from the City of Niagara Falls and seeing the success they have had with their festival of lights, I know the City of Orillia could benefit from their own festival,” he said.
After receiving the letter from Gauthier, city staff were asked to investigate the idea. On Monday night, staff tabled their response.
“At this time, city staff could provide general guidance for an organization looking to take the lead on an event such as this,” said Jacqueline Soczka, the city’s manager of culture. “For the municipality to play a more significant role in the planning process, however, additional resources would be required.”
Orillia Mayor Steve Clarke would love to see the city host a festival of lights and wants city staff to do some more investigation. He received support from his colleagues to pursue the matter further.
Council committee directed staff to contact various local service groups and associations to gauge interest in their desire to take a lead role in organizing a winter festival. Those discussions would include the possibility of developing a cost-sharing agreement with the city.
“My family and I used to do an annual pilgrimage to Niagara Falls for their festival of lights,” said Clarke. “I have seen first-hand the benefit of (such a festival) to another community.”
He said he hopes, during the next term of council, that there may be interest in reviving a plan to construct a refrigerated skate trail at the waterfront. The idea was nixed by the current council due to its cost.
“My sense is there is a desire, along with the improved financial situation in the city, to explore the possibility of a refrigerated skate trail around our waterfront,” said Clarke. “The goal is, I believe, to create vibrancy and animation from November to March when the park, traditionally, is pretty dark.”
He said a festival of lights would “be an economic boon to the area” and said a skate park, coupled with a festival of lights, “would truly animate the park. I see it, personally, as an externally-led project with the city as a significant partner.”
Coun. Ted Emond noted the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce staged a festival of lights in the 1980s.
“It’s a very major challenge to do because it’s quite a volunteer-intensive requirement at a time of year when outside volunteering is not considered favourable,” said Emond. “I do believe the potential of co-locating with a skate trail, if that were to come about, with refurbished lands that we are contemplating in the waterfront area … there’s a good chance we could carry this off.”
Staff will explore potential partnership opportunities, investigate costs and logistics and report back to council during 2019 budget deliberations.
