WHITEWATER REGION (Cobden) — The second annual Whitewater StreetStrut was successful, with a profit, so far, of just under $400. However, there is an opportunity of adding about $2,600 through the selling of merchandise items in inventory for future sale.
In a report to council, Community Services Manager Jordan Durocher reported a brief on the event. Expenses totalled $64,350 while revenue was $64,740.
There was favourable weather for the event and more than 1,000 people attended the Main Street evening event. Mr. Durocher noted there was a free family festival throughout the afternoon, which included balloon twisting, face painting, Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo, Junkyard Symphony, petting zoo and horse drawn wagon rides. This free event was due to the reserve contribution of $5,000, he noted.
Mr. Durocher noted local businesses and organizations participated in the festivities.
He said the organizing committee not only brought in a big-name headliner, but brought in local talent.
“The feedback on the event was very positive,” he said. “It was certainly nice to hear.”
Councillor Charlene Jackson questioned if the event will move to another area within the municipality next year, which was the original idea in the beginning.
“I certainly heard lots of good things about the event, but the one concern I keep hearing is if it will be moved to Westmeath or Beachburg for the next year,” she said.
Councillor Chris Olmstead, who sits on the organizing committee, said that is a council issue.
“We did talk about, and when the new council comes in, I think that’s something that will be considered then,” he said.
There has been some discussion with people in Beachburg as to when and where the event could be held, he said.
Coun. Jackson questioned if that was enough time to get a good band to come in.
Coun. Olmstead noted much of the leg work is done early, and contacts have already been built up. He believes there will be time in January/February to book a headliner.
Chief Administrative Officer Robert Tremblay said, “Jordan has probably been the least bombastic of the staff. I want to highlight some of the things he didn’t say.
“We got one-thousand people here, which is literally the doubling of the population in Cobden.
“You can tell by the sponsorship numbers that a number of businesses support this event,” he said. “Jordan spoke about local talent being there.”
However, what has to be discussed is if the family portion would stay with the evening event if it moves around, or should be dovetailed with another organization’s event to help support them, such as heritage day at the museum in Foresters Falls, CAO Tremblay suggested.
“Other events around the region had obstacles, and our event has been successful two years in a row,” he said. “I want to thank the volunteers, the members of council who served on that committee, with more than 100 hours of volunteer time. My mother was here, as was my sister, so I owe them one,” he added with a laugh.
“It’s important to note that this is truly a large organization that involves multiple groups, business community providing sponsorship, and volunteers contributing their time.”
Coun. Olmstead noted StreetStrut started out as a break-even event for Canada 150.
“It has turned into a signature event for our township,” he said. “To be doing as well as we’re doing, as the CAO said, there were two or three events locally that did really really poorly on the number side, we are doing very well.”
He noted there have been more than 30 entertainers on the local stages in just two years. These entertainers have sent thank you notes and spoken about gratitude through their emails to Coun. Olmstead.
“There’s a lot of gratitude out there that we don’t talk enough about,” he said. “This has turned into a great signature event and hopefully it continues.”
Many charges laid during distracted driving campaign
PEMBROKE — The Upper Ottawa Valley Detachment of the OPP conduced a Labour Day weekend distracted driving campaign. OPP officers focused on distracted drivers during the provincial traffic safety campaign. In addition to distracted driving, officers also paid attention to aggressive driving, lack of occupant restraint and impaired driving which, in terms of personal injury collision causation, collectively make up the “The Big 4”.
Over the course of the traffic safety initiative Upper Ottawa Valley OPP officers laid several charges including 39 speeding charges, eight hazardous moving violation charges, six Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act (CAIA) charges, six distracted driving charges and two seatbelt charges. One driver was charged under the stunt driving legislation for excessive speed and had their driver’s license suspended and vehicle impounded, both for a period of seven days.
One driver was also charged with impaired driving under the Criminal Code. The Upper Ottawa Valley OPP Marine Unit was active on area waterways and 10 charges were issued over the course of the weekend, including charges for boating safety equipment deficiencies.
