Council Endorses 2010 Elvis Festival
In Unanimous Vote
Manager of Arts, Culture and Special Events for the Town of Collingwood Karen Cubitt told council that the Elvis Committee began putting together a strategic plan for 2010 in September. “It is the mission of the Collingwood Elvis Festival Municipal Services Board to showcase the Collingwood region to the world as a friendly, safe, vibrant, historic region which offers enjoyable experiences to its residents and visitors” Cubitt told council.
Collingwood Elvis Festival Manager Rosemarie O’Brien told council that the 2009 festival is expected to turn of profit of $19,000.00. O’Brien said that the fact that the festival turned a profit despite inclement weather in 2009 shows how loyal fans of the festival are. “We had the worst weather that I’ve seen to date, and I’ve been with the festival since 1998. The fact that we have a good news story and have made money shows the loyalty of the Elvis fans that still come to Collingwood and still deem this to be the best Elvis festival that they like to come to” O’Brien added.
Director of Leisure Services Peter Dunbar said that the festival managed to survive in 2009 despite tough economic times. “The Americans weren’t coming across the border, people weren’t driving more than two-and-a-half hours anywhere, but still the core values of the Elvis Festival seem to shine through. People came and people bought tickets” Dunbar said.
Board member Michael Christie told council that 44 percent of the festival’s budget was spent locally. “245,000.00 was spent by the festival in the town of Collingwood and surrounding area last year, which over the last four years has added up to just over one million dollars” Christie said. “We try to spend as much as we can here like everybody else does and it’s nice when it comes together with the plan” Christie added.
Downtown Collingwood BIA Manager Sue Nicholson said that in terms of marketing, the festival talks “Collingwood” first when promoting the festival. “Our visuals, our copy and through the electronic media as well, the message that we’re taking is the venue, what it is and certainly where it is and what a great place Collingwood is to vacation and to bring the family and to return to as well” Nicholson said. “We have seen strong support from our media partners as well as strong support from the Province of Ontario” Nicholson added, saying that the festival benefited from many provincial marketing initiatives.