When the municipality’s Canada Day committee disbanded in 2017, Tourism Moose Jaw saw an opportunity to create another tourist event that would show how well Moose Jaw shines.
The organization took over the planning of the event and created an in-house committee composed of several members from the community, explained executive director Jacki L’Heureux-Mason. This ensured no provincial or federal funding would be lost that could support the festivities.
The Kinsmen Club later came on board to help support the July 1 event, and by working with the club and Moose Jaw businesses, Tourism Moose Jaw was able to focus its efforts in creating an “old school” hands-on day featuring different community groups such as gymnastics and judo, L’Heureux-Mason told city council on Nov. 18 during a special budget discussion meeting.
More money was added to make the fireworks memorable, while more than 3,000 people — a conservative number, she pointed out — came out to celebrate Canada’s 152nd birthday.
“Canada Day 2019 was an incredible success. We hope 2020 is the same,” L’Heureux-Mason said.
The main expenses for Canada Day were programming ($4,900), miscellaneous ($1,900) such as advertising, marketing, printing, and administrative work, and fireworks ($10,500). In the future, L’Heureux-Mason wants to acquire a larger grant from the federal government and decrease the stipend that city council provides.
For next year, the Canada Day committee is asking for $2,484 in funding from city council.
Other challenges Tourism Moose Jaw faces with Canada Day include maintaining consistent committee members, not becoming “same old, same old” in the activities offered, funding, ensuring there is a major sponsor, and having enough volunteers.
Tourism Moose Jaw
Tourism Moose Jaw itself is asking for a municipal grant of $92,976 as part of its 2020 operating budget. Its overall revenues and expenses are expected to be $379,076.
This year it received $91,152 in municipal grants, while its projected revenue is $347,984 and projected expenses are $349,734, for a deficit of $1,750.
L’Heureux-Mason gave a brief review of how the 2019 tourism season went, pointing out the moose feud with Norway was positive for the municipality overall; all the attention surrounding Mac the Moose enabled the organization to start a seed fund to ensure the statue’s lifelong care.
More people came out to Sidewalk Days and Canada Day, while the number of people who took trolley tours increased by 48 per cent this year over 2018 numbers, although there was a decrease last year since the trolley broke down toward the end of the summer.
The organization was also the anchor for the successful Canada’s Most Notorious City campaign.
“The outlook is very positive,” L’Heureux-Mason said, adding the organization will look to find more partnerships since it’s easier to go far with the support of others. The keys to success in the future will include bringing in more visitors, creating efficient funding models, providing targeted services and providing more products.
