ATHABASCA – Canada Day fireworks are a staple at the Magnificent River Rats Festival and the Town of Athabasca wants to make sure the money it earmarks for the show ends up in the right hands.
At their July 11 council meeting, Town of Athabasca councillors voted 6-0 (Coun. Ida Edwards was absent) in favour of a motion that will see the town reallocate $3,080 from the River Rats, with their permission, to the Athabasca Chamber of Commerce, along with $1,920 in grant funding to help fund the 2023 Canada Day fireworks show.
Historically, the town has given the festival $5,000 for fireworks, which the River Rats organizers then turned around and gave to the commerce, which is responsible for the explosive nightcap.
This year, the town received $1,920 from a federal heritage grant to use for the fireworks, which complicated the process a bit.
“From my memory, the River Rats were given the $5,000, and then they gave it to the chamber since they’re so busy that they don’t have time to run the fireworks,” Coun. Edie Yuill explained. “My vote is that it should be going to the chamber or whoever is putting on the fireworks. I don’t want to see any money sitting there that belongs to the River Rats.”
Currently, the town hadn’t heard from the River Rats about any plans for a post-festival presentation during a council meeting.
“I think, going forward and thinking about the community, there’s been a lot of concern from people about, is the fence required, and then covering the cost for it instead of just having an open field for everyone,” said Coun. Jonathan LeMessurier.
“For me representing the town, I would like to hear a little more about it moving forwards. There was a lot of discussion about why the kids’ area was inside the fence instead of being outside, so if people wanted to take their kids there, they had to pay for tickets.”
