A popular event is back for a sequel in Sechelt this summer and now a charity is in place for the box-office benefit.
Council voted at a May 5 meeting to assign Arrowhead Clubhouse Society as this year’s recipient as Sechelt staff start planning for a second round of drive-in movie nights at Hackett Park.
The decision to move ahead with the movie event was cemented at the prior council meeting.
Councillors acknowledged the popularity of last year’s event as part of the reason to move ahead.
“In the interest of having something good for the community, this is something I would support,” said Coun. Eric Scott.
Last year the district partnered with Fresh Air Cinema for two drive-in movie nights at Hackett Park, with sponsorship from Fortis BC covering the cost. By-donation tickets sold out in a few days and raised $2,335 for Habitat for Humanity.
This summer, Fortis BC committed to covering 50 per cent of expenses on the condition the events are held for free or by donation.
Staff put a recommended by-donation ticket price at between $30 and $50 per vehicle, with proceeds going to a chosen charity.
Currently, 50 cars maximum are allowed at the event.
The district hasn’t finalized dates but is planning for an August weekend.
Staff asked at the April 21 council meeting for permission to seek sponsorship to help with costs, and that the district spend up to $6,600 on the two movie nights if it can’t get support from another sponsor, which would cover the remaining cost to rent a screen, ferry transport, staff and other expenses.
Scott suggested the district could request financial support from telecommunications company Telus given their presence in the community.
Coun. Brenda Rowe, who also supported moving ahead with the movie night, said she had “every confidence in this community that sponsorship will cover the vast majority of this cost.”
Other district-produced arts and culture activities were approved at the April 21 meeting, including a physically-distanced Canada Day for July 1.
Only 25 people filled out an online survey about the 2020 Canada Day festivities and most respondents said they wouldn’t likely participate in online events this year.
Ideas proposed by staff in the survey included another drive-by parade (also the most popular idea), a boat parade in Sechelt Inlet, outdoor scavenger hunts, a drive-thru pancake breakfast, “pop-up” performances, a decorating contest, Indigenous language and culture programming and pre-recorded ceremony.
The district is contributing $10,000 toward Canada Day event expenses, on top of a $3,500 Heritage Canada grant. The Sechelt Downtown Business Association will contribute $1,500 for prizes, according to an April 21 staff report.
Council also approved staff to move ahead with planning for a Summer Music Series, with in-person concerts featuring local musicians and with limited attendance if public health guidelines and orders allow. The annual budget for the series is $19,500.
Vancouver Coastal Health can’t provide support for that event based on the current public health orders, said Sechelt’s art and culture coordinator Siobhan Smith, but the hope is for the restrictions to ease enough to permit up to 50 people to attend, as was the case last summer.
