Christine Leadman, executive director of the Bank Street BIA, said she hopes to give some "credibility" to Capital Pride in 2015 if the BIA receives approval to oversee the festival's finances.
January 15, 2015
A new community group is partnering with the Bank Street Business Improvement Area to propose a financial plan to rescue Capital Pride after the festival went bankrupt last year.
The annual festival is marking its 30th anniversary this year, which is why community member Tammy Dopson stepped in make sure it has a future.
At a press conference at City Hall Thursday, Dopson announced a proposal that would bring the Capital Pride back to Bank Street and have the BIA oversee all of the festival’s finances.
The BIA will not be responsible for planning events, but will be “formally accountable for financial expenditures and reporting for the festival,” said Dopson.
Problems with the festival surfaced last fall when it was revealed the board allegedly failed to pay several sponsors. A financial statement of operations tabled at an annual general meeting held in December showed a deficit of $106,000 as the board voted to go bankrupt.
On Thursday, the new group said a community advisory committee will be created and is expected to submit a formal plan to Somerset Ward Coun. Catherine McKenney later this month. The proposal also includes the creation of an operations committee to manage day-to-day planning, led by a festival producer.
Dopson said under the new “grassroots initiative” the intent is to bring Capital Pride back to Bank Street, but it is still unclear if any events associated with the festival would be hosted at City Hall as they have been in the past. The group’s vision for the festival and possible sponsorships were not discussed Thursday.
“At this point in time we’re simply addressing the structure of the organization that will govern Pride itself,” said Dopson. “It’s the 30th anniversary. We’re a world-class city. We deserve the biggest celebration for our 30th anniversary of Capital Pride,” said Dopson.
Christine Leadman, executive director of the Bank Street BIA, said the BIA can give some “credibility ” to the event in light of last year’s setback.
“I think there was a vacuum and I think that a strong proponent in the community came forward in a very professional, organized fashion,” said Christine Leadman, executive director of the Bank Street BIA. “I think it is important that it is a community-led event.”
McKenney supports the new governance structure and said she doesn’t expect the new group to have problems acquiring sponsorship deals under the same Capital Pride name.
Commentary by the Ottawa Mens Centre