Proposal: Speed River Festival                                                                           

Project:

• Establish the Speed River Festival in Guelph as a means of promoting the awareness, appreciation and restoration of this natural amenity
• Build on the history of community engagement through events such as the Speed River Project to use a festival to focus interest on the rivers and related environmental issues in Guelph
• Use the festival as a means of promoting awareness and involvement of non-governmental and governmental organizations and initiatives relevant to the environment in the city
• Contribute to the economic vitality of the area through the festival approach – Guelph currently has 5 festivals that spark considerable local economic activity

Description: 

• Nature festivals are a growing phenomenon used in promoting awareness and appreciation of the environment.  The Speed River festival would expand on the local interest in this natural amenity.
• The festival could see an expansion from the one day Speed  River Clean Up in early June up to a weeklong series of events each organized by a different community group.
• The festival would be the first in the city that would be based on a natural amenity as compared to a cultural focus.

Some local organizations that might be involved include:

-OPIRG, field naturalists, trial club, Nature in the Neighbourhood,  Arboretum, canoe club, wildflower society, health unit (fitness interest), photography groups, artistic organizations, Trout Unlimited, neighbourhood groups such as Two Rivers, and other the festivals that could sponsor/organize a relavent event, city parks and recreation, schools, and others

Potential

• The  Speed River Festival could evolve into its own initiative and organization with its own  board of directors

Support

• Seed funding is available from the Gosling Foundation
• Other local sources are available and research into the operation of the other city’s festivals would reveal additional sources of funding and options for sustainability

Next Steps

The River Systems Advisory Committee and The Gosling Foundation will host a discussion meeting on Thursday December 1, 7:30 p.m. at Dublin Street United Church, Hallman Room to initiate a discussion about this project, determine the interest and start initial organizing if interest warrants it.

Please RSVP   skozak@goslingfoundation.org

For further information please contact:

Stan Kozak   -Project Consultant -Telephone 519 826-0408  skozak@goslingfoundation.org

or Jeremy Shute  -Chair, River Systems Advisory Committee, Telephone 519 993-2706 Jeremy.Shute@aecom.com