Thursday, January 7, 2010

Windfall for Wiarton Willie

South Bruce Peninsula
by Kevin Bernard

South Bruce Peninsula is getting a windfall of cash from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Bruce Grey Owen Sound MPP Bill Murdoch says 146 thousand dollars will go to supporting the Wiarton Willie Festival.

A new festival and events office will be set up in Sauble Beach, in the new Medical building.

Murdoch says the funding will provide work experience and jobs to the unemployed, while helping to revitalize the local economy.

Apart from opening the new office, the partnership between the province and the Sauble Chamber of commerce will also help hire an Administrative/Volunteer co-ordinator, a Special events co-ordinator and a Marketing and sponsorship co-ordinator in South Bruce Peninsula.

Danielle Mulasmajic -- the Economic development officer for the Town of South Bruce Peninsula -- says they look forward to the extra hands in developing and marketing events in the area.

Chamber of Commerce President Bruce Parsons says this is a much needed initiative that will help tourism in the off-seasons.

If 'tourism' means 'tourism operators' then I have no doubt it will indeed help, at least for those who have the means to regroup, reheat and restaff in prep for the event, tho' I still say the whole Billy thing would be of far greater service to mankind if they just sold the world on the idea of getting up at the crispy cold crack of dawn to meet up with their own community friends and inject some local economic stimulation into where ever it is they happen to be while they tele-tune-in to what just so happens to be happening around the Mount up in some place called 'Wiarton'.

Not that they did or ever would, but such a sustainable myth-building message out to the webby world is, IMHO, a way better PR mission, if you ask me, than any amount of unsustainable 6-figure coaxing the world's kind folks to chance to come by and spend a week in attraction halls, transport options and accommodations clearly designed for the warmer seasons.