Former parks, rec and leisure director Dave Saad gives his comments to the Heritage Festival SWOT team Thursday evening. Photo by Phil Novak. ______________________________________________________________
Former city parks and rec director Dave Saad says Mayor Vic Fedeli has to become a “champion” of the North Bay Heritage Festival and Grant Forest Products Airshow.
Saad was one of eight presenters at a public forum about the festival, held Thursday night in the city hall council chamber.
About 25 people showed up for the meeting.
North Bay council did a “great” job in covering the festival’s debt, Saad said, “but it is not only through financial support that the council is needed.”
The two largest festival boosters ever, Saad said, were former North Bay mayors Jack Burrows and Stan Lawlor.
“There was nothing they would not do for the festival. They sat on committees, sold wristbands and made the power of the mayor’s office completely available to the festival committee,” Saad said.
Burrows and Lawlor “spearheaded” the corporate wristband campaign, which raised approximately $30,000 annually for the festival,” Saad said.
But Fedeli, “who received over 70% public support in his campaign and a very strong following who respected his opinion, was openly critical, Saad said, of an event “that he had very little, if any, first hand knowledge about.”
“If the mayor says it, people listen and believe,” Saad said.
The mayor, Saad added, has to be a “champion” of the event.
The mayor’s support is vital to the success of the festival since it’s the mayor’s office that can set the tone,” Saad said.
“It is commendable that this SWOT team has been formed, but the support from the mayor’s office in the future has got to be a lot more positive than it was for the past year. “
Saad pointed to the consequences he believes one of Fedeli’s decisions had.
“The lack of a presence in the sponsor appreciation tent to say thank you to the community businesses that supported the festival was very noticeable and must change,” Saad said.
“The pulling of the funds from the economic development budget that was used to show appreciation to community businesses for their support was also a first this year and should be reinstated.”
If the city can spend $35,000 on a fishing show,” Saad said, “surely we can spend a few thousand dollars to say thank you to our corporate community.”
BayToday.ca will have more on the meeting later this morning.
