Morris-Turnberry to support Bluevale 170th Homecoming in 2024
BY SCOTT STEPHENSON
Morris-Turnberry Council is providing a variety of support for the Bluevale Homecoming Committee in advance of the 170th celebration being planned for next year.
Council received a letter of intent from Jason Breckenridge, Chairman of the Bluevale 170th Homecoming Committee, detailing preliminary plans for the festivities, set to take place from Aug. 9-11, 2024. Planned activities include a parade, local entertainment, a car show, kids’ events and a church service.
In the letter, Breckenridge requested confirmation from council that the municipality is willing to support the event before further planning continues. The support requests include providing assistance with lottery licensing, arranging for parade road closures, providing a loan or grant to get started, choosing a councillor to attend homecoming meetings and providing surplus history books for fundraising sales.
Chief Administrative Officer Trevor Hallam provided a report to council on the matter. In the report, Hallam says Morris-Turnberry has supported similar events in 2004 and 2014, and recommended council support next year’s edition as well.
Hallam said that Deputy-Mayor Kevin Freiburger is already council’s representative on the Bluevale Community Committee and that Councillor Jamie McCallum, who has already been attending Bluevale Homecoming Committee meetings, could be ratified as a council representative by resolution.
Referencing consultation with Director of Public Works Mike Alcock, Hallam said road closures may not be needed for the parade, depending on the scope. Further discussions will take place to determine necessity.
McCallum said that in 2014, council approved an interest-free loan of $7,500 to homecoming organizers that was repaid within 30 days of the event. He noted that Bluevale is the only Morris-Turnberry community that exists strictly within the municipality’s borders and he thinks that it’s a good idea to support the event and to provide a loan commensurate with previous municipal contributions.
Councillor Sharen Zinn suggested that $7,500 may be insufficient in 2023. Mayor Jamie Heffer proposed a revised figure of $10,000, to which council was agreeable.
Zinn motioned to support the Bluevale Homecoming, provide an interest-free $10,000 loan to be repaid within 30 days of the event, donate history books and provide staff to assist organizers. McCallum seconded and the motion carried.