Town council has approved a new one-season agreement with the Innisfail & District Chamber of Commerce to have the Tourist Information Centre funded and staffed for the summer.
Terry Welsh, the town's director of community services, told council at its regular meeting on April 14 that a request was received from the chamber to continue $4,500 in funding for a seasonal staff person at the centre. He said it is the second year in a row the town would consider the request after the province discontinued its Summer Temporary Employment Program (STEP) two years ago.
“It caused a fair bit of angst for municipalities across the province who were used to receiving funding for support of various programs,” said Terry Welsh, the town's community services director. “Within Innisfail there was support not only for students in our parks programs, and as well used to support the chamber of commerce in the operation of the tourist information centre.”
Welsh said the chamber came with a new request this year and it was tied in with a Letter of Understanding, which was presented to council as well as the obligations for each party for the operation of the centre.
He said the reason the town went with a Letter of Understanding rather than a lease was because there have been discussions about the future of the existing tourism information centre, including its future location.
The letter stated the town would provide the centre rent-free, utilities at no cost, general building maintenance as required, and provide $4,500 for the centre's operation for only the 2014 season. The funding will support the hiring of a seasonal employee from May 15 through to the September long weekend.
In return, the chamber agrees to operate the centre annually and to keep it open from Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Any further funding to the chamber would require a formal written presentation to town council, with approval in subsequent years at council's discretion, said Welsh.
Diane Mineault, the chamber's executive director, said she was pleased council agreed to fund the centre for the second consecutive year. She said the seasonal staff member will be hired but not necessarily a student.
“He or she will be working with the chamber and looking after the tourists that come in,” said Mineault. “This allows our office to be open longer. Normally we are closed at 4:30 p.m. so we will be extending our office hours until 6 p.m. On the weekend the historical society will be coming in. It will be open seven days a week, starting the May 24th weekend.”
Council approved the request to continue with its funding of the centre. Coun. Doug Bos abstained from the vote, as he is currently the president of the chamber.
