Plan to create international summer music festival in Niagara Region receives boost

Plan to create international summer music festival in Niagara Region receives boost

(Niagara-on-the-Lake) ’Äì Niagara-on-the-Lake Town (NOTL) Council gave its support on Monday, December 2, to a project to create an international music festival in their community.

The music festival, with the working title Project Niagara, is an initiative of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the National Arts Centre. The two organizations have been working on development and feasibility of Project Niagara together since 2004. Financial backing for their work to date has come from the two organizations themselves, as well the Province of Ontario, Falls Management Corporation, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and the Niagara Economic Development Corporation.

Janice Thomson, Executive Director of the NOTL Chamber of Commerce, made a presentation to Town Council on Monday.

’ÄúI am here this evening to tell you of the support that does exist in this community for Project Niagara,’Äù Thomson told NOTL councillors and a packed chamber. ’ÄúIn a few days, I have received more than one hundred individual letters of support from residents, visitors and businesses of Niagara-on-the-Lake voicing their support for the creation of Project Niagara on the Parks Canada Lakeshore Property.’Äù

Thomson asked that councillors send a strong message to the Regional, Provincial and Federal governments of their support for the project.

Councillor Dennis Dick put forward the following motion, seconded by Councillor Jim Collard:

’ÄúTHAT the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake reaffirm support, in principle, the plans as proposed by ’ÄúProject Niagara’Äù to institute a Music Festival at the site known as the DND lands in Niagara-on-the-Lake; AND further that ’ÄòProject Niagara’Äô keeps the Town updated as needed on new developments in order that the residents of Niagara-on-the-Lake are informed; AND that the Region of Niagara, MPP Kim Craitor Provincial Government and The Hon. Rob Nicholson, MP and the Federal Government be informed of our continued support.’Äù

Council approved the motion.

Representatives of the National Arts Centre and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra will present Project Niagara’Äôs feasibility study to NOTL Town Council on Monday, December 15th.

To view the letters presented to Council in support of Project Niagara please go to www.niagaraonthelake.com, or http://blog.projectniagara.org.