The township has reached an agreement with a local company planning to offer fishing lessons on Saturdays at Confederation Park in Fergus.
Parks and recreation director Andy Goldie brought the agreement to council on May 7 for approval.
He explained that Wilson’s Sporting Tradition is a new business owner in the community and approached his staff about offering fishing lessons along the Grand River at the park from 10am to 4:30pm on Saturdays between May and October this year. Wilson’s wants to use an open area along the south shore of the river, and that area is not typically a heavily used area of the park.
“Staff feel that this activity is a quiet activity which will not interfere with adjacent neighbours, other public activities in the park and is an opportunity to provide a teaching space for one of Centre Wellington’s key tourism activities, namely fishing,” Goldie said in his report.
He told council staff had negotiated a commercial operator access agreement that outlines the terms of permission for that activity.
“If the one year term is successful, Wilson’s Sporting Tradition may request a longer term commercial operator access agreement for staff and council consideration,” the report stated.
The terms include:
– a $250 fee for preparation of the agreement;
– a fee per permitted day of $50, and $15 for charitable events;
– operation day is from 10am to 4:30pm on Saturdays;
– the agreement term is May 12 through Dec. 31;
– operator’s staff and patrons are required to park in Confederation Park parking lots at Scotland Street and Queen Street;
– and Wilson’s will provide $2 million general liability insurance including naming the township as an additional insured party.
Wilson’s was established in 1998 and will be offering fly casting lessons. The Grand River has become famous as a fly fishing destination since the mid 1990s when several groups, including Friends of the Grand River, the Grand River Conservation Authority, and the Ministry of Natural Resources began working to improve its water and flow and stocked it with brown trout. Within a couple of years, an economic study demonstrated that the river and fly fishing were generating $1 million a year in economic activity.
Work continues to this day to improve the water quality in the river and the fishery.
Wilson’s plans to sponsor a garbage kiosk at the park and eventually build a small work shop on the property for instructors and the public for various events. Council was unanimous in supporting the agreement. Councillor Walt Visser was absent, attending a water conference.
