Friday, February 22, 2013

Mountain Town News


By ALLEN BEST - MTN TOWN NEWS SERVICE

Events funding has winners and losers

WHISTLER, B.C.—When a municipal government announces the events getting subsidies, there will always be winners and losers. Such was the case in Whistler.

A big winner was Readers and Writers, which got $30,000. That’s small potatoes, but then the festival has existed on a shoestring. Organizers told Pique Newsmagazine that they’re ecstatic.

Not so happy were producers of WinterPRIDe, the gay ski week held in Whistler. The festival, now in its 21st year, attracts enough people to have a $4.5 million impact on Whistler, supporters say. But without a boost from the city government, they warn they may just have to fold up their tent.

Whistler, said organizer Dean Nelson, is competing against Vail, which is well-heeled enough to have a major comedian, Drew Carey, at its gay ski week.

Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden, a judge at the recent Mr. Gay Canada competition, said she would be disappointed if the gay skiers go elsewhere. Whistler, she said, offers an “inclusive atmosphere.”

Other festivals getting part of the $1 million doled out by the municipality include the Ironman ($250,000), Tough Mudder ($112,000) and Crankworx ($80,000).




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