Image Credit: PEXELS
June 03, 2023 - 12:30 PM
The City of Penticton earmarked $250,000 for an end-of-pandemic concert in March of 2021, but never spent the cash.
It might finally happen this year.
The money is to be used to “enable greater risk to be taken to attract larger acts to the SOEC that will provide a bigger benefit for the business community (once COVID restrictions are lifted),” according to a staff report.
The former council agreed to make the investment although not everyone was gung ho about spending that much on a concert.
Former Councillor Judy Sentes wasn’t sure if $250,000 would be enough money to book a band that can generate significant interest.
But the commitment was made and COVID restrictions were lifted long ago – so where’s the concert? The city doesn't have an answer to that.
“Those funds have not yet been accessed,” Penticton spokesperson Shane Mills said in an email. “The funding remains in place for a potential event opportunity in 2023 but no decisions on use of the funds have been made at this stage.”
Kevan Scott, the SOEC’s senior marketing manager, did not deny that a “potential opportunity” is in the works.
“More announcements are coming, stay tuned."
If the concert planners are listening – how would you like to see the $250,000 concert budget spent? Feel free to share your comments below.
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