North Battleford city council heard from third party organizations at Tuesday's meeting. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Annual requests

North Battleford council holds pre-budget talks, third-party organizations asking for support

Oct 11, 2023 | 2:27 PM

Several third-party organizations made presentations to North Battleford’s city council at Tuesday’s meeting asking for continued support for 2024.

They received the proposals and will decide on funding during their budget deliberations later this year.

The Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts, Battlefords Transit System, Twin Rivers Curling Club (TRCC) and the North Battleford Downtown ‍Business Improvement District (BID) made their annual requests from the city.

Kali Weber of The Dekker Centre said the organization is asking for the same support as last year, about $235,000.

During her presentation, Coun. Bill Ironstand spoke up about some people asking why the city subsidizing places like the Dekker Centre.

FSIN

Chief Bobby Cameron re-elected for fourth term as FSIN Chief

Oct 31, 2024

Battleford Municipal Election

Laing seeks fourth term on Battleford Council

Oct 31, 2024

Softball Sask Hall of Fame

'I just wanted to give back': Local softball legend gets rewarded for her years of dedication

Oct 31, 2024

In response, Weber said without art a part of life is missing.

Mayor David Gillan also noted the Dekker Centre provides much more than its face value in the community.

“Sometimes not everything is costs; we have investments as well… It’s not all black and white,” he said.

While show tickets for popular artists, like Johnny Reid, sell fast, there is also a higher cost to bring them here. Weber said The Dekker Centre tries to balance what talent it showcases and aims to offer a diversity of acts.

For the TRCC, President Al Gabert and Vice President Doug Fehr presented for the organization, asking for $36,000 in support from the city, the same as last year.

Gabert said the curling centre is trying to bring more youth to the sport for a new generation of curlers. The club also has a social league to offer people a more relaxed, less competitive time curling.

When the facility is not being used for curling during the off-season, it is rented out to various organizations to bring in funding.

The Battlefords Transit System (BTS), which looks after transit services for the public as well as the Battlefords Handi-Bus, hopes to receive $361,597 in support from the city for operating costs. The amount reflects an $8,000 increased ask on the transit side for the city.

One of the organization’s recent challenges has been getting more ridership.

Coun. Greg Lightfoot, who sits on the Battlefords Transit System committee, said while the handi-bus use is up, the public transit system ridership is lagging currently.

“We’ll get the numbers up,” he said.

City Manager Randy Patrick noted most public transit ridership right across Canada is down following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The BID ask, as presented by Derek Schmidt, is about $118,724.

Schmidt explained the BID funding is not subsidized by the city. It is funded through a city levy that is imposed on the downtown business improvement district tax for business members.

Some of the programs the BID is involved in include the art alley and business facade improvement projects.

—

Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow