While United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) mayors were having their first round of 2025 budget discussions on Wednesday, October 30, one mayor stated his objection to the regional level of government being a source of financial contributions to community organizations. The basis of his comments were the financial burden such contributions impose upon taxpayers, but his comments also lead to other good points about if local governments should really be contributing financially to events and organizations.
The Christmas Home Tour held in Vankleek Hill on Saturday, November 2 is a good example of a community event that took place without any direct financial contribution from the municipal or regional level. It was entirely an initiative of private business. The participating businesses and organizations added to what the tour offered and also benefited from the event economically. Champlain Township’s only contribution to the event was flipping open the “Event in Progress” signs along roads entering Vankleek Hill. All that the UCPR provided was County Road 10 as a way to get there.
A truly community project or event is one where there is grassroots initiative from individuals, businesses, and organizations to make something happen. Financial and logistical contributions from municipal and regional governments are often necessary, but they should not be the only source of financial and physical support to make events and projects happen.
Admittedly, it is a challenge these days to get community initiatives going without them being partially or even fully organized and financed by local government. In Champlain Township, the annual Christmas parade is a municipal project now, but it would not be possible without the participation of dozens of local businesses and community organizations. In Hawkesbury, the Multicultural Festival and Canada Day celebrations are municipally organized, but with corporate sponsorship. Perhaps the best example in Eastern Ontario of an extremely successful event being largely independently organized with a mixture of private and public support is the Glengarry Highland Games. The biggest challenges with organizing and financing these events is finding the money and people. Many community organizations are struggling to find volunteers. Membership and activity in traditional service clubs, lodges, and religious organizations has decreased significantly in recent years.
Despite these challenges, there is a great amount of satisfaction a community can have from creating and establishing events and activities through the initiative of local residents for the enjoyment of local residents and visitors from outside the area. This satisfaction is on the faces of organizers and participants alike. There were more than 800 visitors to Vankleek Hill for the Home Tour, and dozens of economically satisfied, even if tired, local business owners who benefited from people shopping and eating during the event. In the weeks ahead, a similar effect will be had in local communities through the series of craft markets that take place this time of year.
Keep our communities strong. Let’s share what we have with each other, and with visitors. It takes more than taxpayer’s money to make it happen.
