Council has approved a $2,000 budget to cover to heritage events this October.
Councillor Wayne Martin said the events are being held on Oct. 23 and 24.
Deputy-mayor Judy Dirksen said she knew the event is a project councillor Martin has been working on.
Martin said the amount should probably read “up to $2,000”. He said there would be costs for the food, and some would be related to the assistance from Stephen Thorning, who will be a speaker at the event.
“We’d like to give him something,” he said.
Most of the costs, he said, are based on the volunteer night held earlier by Minto.
He said that when the Minto heritage working group was formed, it was to gauge the level of interest in built and cultural heritage and to recommend if there should be a heritage committee. The working group also has a fairly narrow time frame in which to do that.
Martin explained that recommendation came about as a result of the heritage aspect was separated from the town’s original tourism heritage arts and culture committee. He believed that in itself is good because of the amount of attention required.
“There’s a lot of things happening with our heritage and we’re making a big investment in Palmerston.”
He added that there were also some uncertainties in the cost of the venues where the events would be held.
Dirksen asked treasurer Gord Duff, “Would I be right in saying that you’re not going to cut them a cheque for $2,000, and they have to come up with the expenses to match that?”
She said the resolution essentially already means a budget “of up to $2,000.”
Martin said of the program of events, “I think it’s one of the first times we’ve included all four communities on one project.”
He said a number of heritage stories from residents have already started to come in.
“And the stories that are coming out, regarding the history of the community, are really interesting.
“It will be interesting to see what the whole package brings.” He believes Thorning, too, will have a lot of good stories, and be able to offer a perspective.
Councillors passed the motion.
