Decision To Allow One Day Event In Clan Gregor Square Labour Day Weekend

by Bob Montgomery

Bluewater council discussed a letter from the Bayfield and Area Chamber of Commerce at Monday night's council meeting.

Bayfield Ward Councillor, Bill Whetstone, explained the letter from the Chamber expressed their concerns about council approving a market event in Clan Gregor Square on August 31st from twelve in the afternoon until six in the evening. The letter from the Chamber stated that “While we support many activities in our area that draw people to the core area, it was felt by the majority of our membership and other businesses who were contacted about the event, that the event being held Labour Day weekend will have a direct negative impact on those ratepayers in our downtown core.”

Their concern was that the Labour Day weekend is their busiest weekend of the year and the event approved by council would allow buskers and food vendors and would in fact discourage visitors from coming to Bayfield that day. 

Whetstone says the event has already been approved but what came out of the meeting was a decision by council to make sure that, although they don't necessarily require the Chamber's approval to hold an event in Clan Gregor Square it would make sense to have the Chamber brought up to date on anything that is planned for the square. Going forward it was agreed that staff would make the Chamber aware of any events being planned for Clan Gregor Square and get the Chamber's feedback.

Whetstone pointed out it's not a requirement but it just makes sense to communicate with their downtown because that's their bread and butter when it comes to tourism.