By KATHRYN BURNHAM kburnham@standard-freeholder.com
BROCKVILLE — Events in eastern Ontario have a new line of support from the Special Event Resource Centre.
The St. Lawrence 1812 Bicentennial Alliance received a $100,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to open the event centre, which will be located near Brockville.
The centre will house hundreds of pieces of equipment needed to host a fantastic event – from signs and barricades, to cash boxes, megaphones, walkie talkies and garbage cans.
The centre will be accessible for any organization, and equipment will be rented out. Organizations donating equipment to the centre will be able to rent at a lower cost, receiving free storage, insurance, and maintenance of their equipment.
“This will help hardworking volunteers looking to do the best job they can,” said Jan Bonhomme, the manager of the event centre and executive director of the St. Lawrence 1812 Bicentennial Alliance.
The Alliance is responsible for promoting all events in the St. Lawrence Valley connected to celebrating the 200th anniversary of the war of 1812. Events will take place between 2012 and 2014 to mark the historical event.
Bonhomme said she consulted with groups hosting events for the War of 1812 anniversary, and they asked for a resource centre. “This is perfect, because we will be able to leave a legacy,” she said.
The idea is that since many events have some equipment they use only one or two weekends a year, sharing resources will mean many events will have access to more safety and promotion equipment than they could afford to purchase.
“It’s great to finally have a resource we can all use,” said Meaghan Meerburg, the communiy development programmer for North Dundas Township. She said the centre will best help events with smaller budgets, whether it’s the Chesterville Fair or Art on the Park.
Meerburg said she is hoping the Township will contribute a few items of its own to the event library, including an inflatable screen they have for outdoor movie screenings. “The more resources we can pool in one area, it is better for everyone,” she said.
With Bonhomme having promised to maintain and insure all items shared to the event centre, Meerburg said there really is no down side to getting involved, other than the drive to Brockville.
“I am just providing support and experience,” Bonhomme said. “Most events lack volunteers, facilities and funding,” and she hopes her 30 years of experience can help organizers find these key elements.
The centre will also be a resource for information on local suppliers and for training on planning and hosting an event — and available for any events in the eastern Ontario region. Cornwall’s first free training session will be Jan. 23, with others taking place across the region.
Since the Alliance’s project ends in 2014, they have partnered with the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville to continue running the event centre under their economic development department.
