That Council include the Luminous Paths Festival in the 2026 – 2030 Financial Plan on a biennial basis, starting in 2027, with base funding of $86,000, increased by 2% per year, and that any sponsorship funding received be applied to reduce the City’s contribution.”
to that second in Count Spring. Thank you, Councilor Prino. So when we discussed this last week, I was not enthused about the Luminous Paths project, and I apologize to the organizers on staff. That was my personal opinion. But over the weekend, I did speak to a number of people, including those in the hospitality and the tourism sector and. They were quite convincing in their feeling that. This was a positive and useful project. They also pointed out that to sponsor it or get it organized for this winter. The time frame is actually very tight and might not even be feasible. But the idea of every second year. Held a great deal of appeal, and it was felt through the tourism lens that it would be a worthwhile project, so I'm willing to reconsider in that sense. Reconsider? My original viewpoint on this. And would like council to discuss having this festival every second. Here. Thank you.
I appreciate. Just to clarify my intent and after my conversations with tourism that it would be a challenge to get the planning in place for January of 2026. So my intent was that the festival would be held in 2027, and. Biennially. Presumably after that. That was my intent.
order. Councilor Hemmens, everyone. Thank you, your worship. And thank you, Councilor Thorpe. I was. Also going to bring this back for reconsideration for the same reasons I understand the tourism sector is really excited about this and also just, it's an amazing festival. Staff put in a ton of work, and it was really well received. So I was actually going to move to have the annual one put in place, but. I find the timeline of it compelling. It would be difficult to get off the ground this year. So I'm happy to see to support the biannual and if we can reevaluate as funding becomes available going
through you. I'm more inclined. To support option two. Doing the 50,000. On an annual basis. I think. This particular year. There might not be enough time to make it happen, and it may not happen. But I do think every two years. It is a bit fragmented in terms of momentum. And I think having it on annual. Would create the consistency needed to get the most out of it and make it sort of a bit of a tradition here in Naimo in the winter. As opposed to having one. Dark year and one light year. So I won't be supporting this particular motion, but if it does fail, Would support. Option two being brought forward for the annual funding, knowing that probably something this year might not get. Off the ground, but going forward, there'd be consistent funding for well appreciated festival. Thanks. Thank you very much.
you correctly. The 86,000 that we're putting in, should we still receive even the grants we have verified today, so it'll come in around, well, just shy of 70,000. Right. the math, but I'm. Just wanting to make sure that it reduces it because there was some discussion about the 50,000 range. And what I'm hoping is that given this extra time, it not only allows the artists to give a more fulsome. Time to do the work that they need to do, but also. To allow sponsorships to come forward and make sure that we can maybe bring this down to a price tag that makes it worthwhile. I disagree with some of the counselors that said that this needed to be every year. I think there would be a huge amount of excitement by having it on a biannual basis. It just allows the artist time to review their work, decide what they like and how to move. Forward, so I'm excited for it. Thank you. Thank you,
annually. I would have picked option. Two. And so if this motion fails, that's what I like to see. Go forward. I think? That we have momentum from last year. We can build on that this year. And I think that. It's a fantastic festival. For the winter months, I think. It brings a lot of joy to people and activates the park. And so I want to see it
So what we're talking about is starting. It for January of 2027. Just so we're all clear, not this winter.
It in 2026. Ms. Sign. Ms. Berserk. Please illuminate us.
Couldn't resist saying that. Through the chair. Yeah, really good question. I won't lie. If as wonderful as it would be to have it in 2026, planning that event. In about another month and a half. Is a real challenge. With that said. I do have a good relationship with the artists I work with. Who are very game to do that. But no doubt having a year to plan does allow for me to do an open call to artists versus. Me approaching it as a curator and specifically commissioning works. So there is a lot of appeal in an open call in terms of allowing opportunity for artists that I may not be aware of or may not have engaged. Now, when it comes to sponsorship. We have had some really great investment from the sponsors we're working with. We're also partnering with Nanaimo, and those are relationships that I would like to continue. And I am hopeful that they'd be very eager to come on for 2027, especially. Because it allows for more time to promote their involvement as sponsors as well. So I think there's going to be some appeal in that it is an unknown, of course, but. It also does allow for a bit of time for us to seek out other applications for sponsorship. As well, so there's a little give and take
In that. And so, for the sponsorship money that's been committed thus far, is there a baked in understanding that that sponsorship would. Sorry not to cut you off. Sorry.
Through the chair. So we were waiting for these conversations. So there was always a bit of an unknown in terms of what the direction from council would be. So the sponsors were aware of that. Aside from online applications for sponsorship where you don't have a conversation, but who we have engaged so far, all of whom I'm speaking with this week to report back what direction we're going. They were aware that there was a bit of an unknown in terms of what direction we were going to get from council. So nothing was signed and sealed just yet? Okay. I appreciate that context. Thank you. Thank you.
to continue to have those partnerships in 2027. And I hear what you say about putting out an open call, but how do you feel about curating chauffeur 2026 and
done it once. I did it in a month and a half. In 2025. That was still this year. And so, yeah, it's something I'm capable of doing. It's something that I was looking at using. The artist already engaged in our programs, like our urban design roster and commissioning work from them, as well as the way we had partnered with Snanemo as well, and involved some of their artists too. So it's definitely a very abbreviated timeline to do things and a different approach is needed. Because of that. But yes, I have done it. The ones that's how you operated last. Year. It's how I had to do it in 2020. In December. And you pulled this off in January, February. You got it? Yeah, we had it done. In about a month and a half. Okay.
Thank you. I thought it was a great festival and. I'd like to actually see the momentum. Carry on with