A new festival is in the works to debut in Gibsons this summer.
At the April 9 council meeting, Gibsons council approved $5,000 to support OceanFest. The two-day festival is pitched to carry on “In the traditional spirit of the beloved Sea Cavalcade” and celebrate Howe Sound coastal life through multi-cultural arts, sports and educational activities.
In correspondence included in the agenda, organizers identified a minimum fundraising goal of $20,000 of in-kind and cash donations and a budget of $39,850. Based on meeting this goal, events on July 13 and 14 could include water sports, a walking ocean-themed parade, an art collaboration with the Gibsons Public Art Gallery, dance performances, an outdoor music concert and walking tour featuring Coast Salish and pioneer history. On July 14, the BlueAct Marine Society will host an ocean conservation event at the Gibsons Public Market and Nicholas Sonntag TidePools Aquarium. Organizers anticipate being better positioned to apply for future grants after the initial OceanFest and growing the festival.
Council allocated $5,000 in the 2024 budget to support a community event. Mayor Silas White, who put forward the funding motion, said he felt there is interest in the community to start an event resembling Sea Cavalcade (which was last held in 2018). He also noted the organizers of OceanFest reduced their funding request to the Town to $5,000.
“I really appreciate that a group has come forward to kind of pick up the torch and try to get a community festival started again in Gibsons after volunteer burnout… people holding on to the event and putting in just incredible work to keep it going as fewer and fewer people were available to do it. And secondly, after the pandemic, which really killed a lot of community festivals and interaction,” White said. “I think it just needed somebody to come forward and say, ‘We're gonna give this a shot.’”
What about Canada Day?
Also up for funding consideration was a proposal to host a free Canada Day family picnic in Gibsons. Volunteers presented their idea to council in late March with a request for $10,000 from the Town.
White said there are other community dinners that take a great deal of work and fundraising that don’t request funds from the town. Coun. Stafford Lumley asked whether previous Canada Day celebrations in Gibsons were paid through taxation. Staff said Gibsons used to apply for a small grant from the federal government for Canada Day, which paid for a cake and included flags and pins. Applications for that grant are typically due in October or November of the previous year.
Councillors expressed desire for a small Canada Day celebration. “I think it is important that, as a community, we do something for Canada Day, that we just don’t sort of sweep it under the rug,” Coun. David Croal said. Coun. Annemarie De Andrade added that it’s important to recognize and celebrate sovereignty.
Coun. Christi Thompson commented on the struggle of Canadian festivals across the country and said, “I’m encouraged by the enthusiasm that we have two groups that are here as well as the volunteers.”
Council voted that the Town of Gibsons reestablish a modest Canada Day event similar to what has been hosted in the past with a cake cutting. White said they need to be mindful that the District of Sechelt hosts a large regional event, and he hasn’t heard a big demand from residents of Gibsons to compete with Sechelt.
