Summerfest: City could do more to help festivals, manager says

Citing a laundry list of complaints, he characterized his group's relationship with city staff as “toxic” and said they have a “dictatorial style.”

The city's leisure services manager, Réal Carré, said he wouldn't respond to these specific accusations, but did say the city could probably do better communicating with groups like Summerfest.

“I can't speak on their behalf as to why they feel the way they do,” he said. “I can only tell you that I have highly dedicated, well-trained staff here that ... continue to work effectively with these groups.”

However, he admits the municipality could do more to make things easier for groups hosting events on city property.

It's also critical the leadership of groups putting on these events in turn pass on information to all their volunteers, Carré said.

He said the city is moving to prevent such misunderstandings in the future.

It's doing this by publishing an extended checklist outlining things groups need to know before putting on major events on city property. The matter will go before council as soon as early July.

“What it actually does is it drills down a lot more detailed information for event organizers like Summerfest,” he said.

This checklist was developed in part after meetings with Sudbury Summerfest volunteers over the past year, Carré said.

And while it might seem the city isn't supportive, Summerfest does receive municipal grants and loans on a yearly basis to help the festival proceed.

Last year, for example, the end-of-summer event received a $15,000 grant and an $85,000 loan from the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation (GSDC).

The loan was used as a bridge to allow the volunteer-run festival to book acts. Revenue from the event is then used to pay off the loan.

City officials say no grants or loans have yet been extended this year, although arts and culture grants are due to be handed out next month.

One of Nerpin's complaints focused on an incident a few years ago where city staff tried to shut down a concert that went beyond 11 p.m., violating a city noise bylaw.

Although Carré was hesitant to get into the “nitty-gritty” of Nerpin's complaints, he said normally city staff would give festival organizers a “diplomatic” warning to wrap up late-running concerts.

“Of course, Grace Hartman Amphitheatre is located smack in the middle of the City of Greater Sudbury,” he said, adding the city also has an “obligation to the citizens of this community” to ensure loud events wrap up at a reasonable time.

When asked if the city is going to work with Sudbury Summerfest to bring the festival back next year, Carré said his staff is going to find “means and ways to make planning easier for them.”

“Based on our last conversation, when we shared the checklist, they certainly felt we're moving forward on a very positive note,” he said.

“My staff continue to believe that it's going to continue to be a positive approach to working with Summerfest, as it would be with any other group.”