Trail announces new approach to Silver City Days
Trail Council is pleased to announce they will launch a new committee to coordinate the Silver City Days celebrations that take place in Trail annually each May. The new Silver City Days Committee (SCDC), a Select Committee of Council established in accordance with Section 142 of the Community Charter, will consist of one member of Trail Council, City staff members and recruited volunteers. In past years, the Trail Festival Society coordinated and managed the City-funded event. Council identified the review of the community festival as part of its strategic planning session that was held earlier this year.
“The annual Silver City Days celebration is vital to our community spirit and can also be used as a catalyst to promote the city and create economic opportunities for business and non-for profit organizations alike,” saidMayor Mike Martin. “Council is very thankful and appreciative for the work and dedication of the Trail Festival Society and its volunteers over the decades; however, council’s vision is to take the event to the next level and believes a larger and differently structured committee is needed to move forward with new ideas, additional major events and diversified attractions and activities.”
In addition, council was concerned with the ongoing sustainability of the event given heavy reliance on only a few individuals.
“Council felt that it was important to proactively initiate this change as opposed to reacting to issues or concerns that could have materialized in the near future,” Martin said.
The new committee structure will include three selected volunteers and three city staff members (the deputy director of parks and recreation, the communications and events coordinator and the deputy director of finance) who will take on major coordinator roles for the event. All coordinators will report to the committee chair, an appointed member of Trail council.
“Community organizations will continue to play a key role in the event and council hopes that as part of the restructuring, there will be a renewed interest and improved engagement with all groups and organizations in the community,” added Martin. “The designated coordinators will liaise with various local groups, sporting associations and businesses who wish to contribute and participate in the event. We will also focus on celebrating our community heritage and cultural diversity with a “Flavours of Trail” food and beverage event.
“The committee will also endeavor to incorporate more sporting events, entertainment and interactive activities for people of all ages as part of providing a more comprehensive and exciting experience that should attract even more visitors to the city,” he said. “This celebration is our time to celebrate and show our community and citizens that we are proud of the City of Trail, its diversity and what the city represents.”
The city will start recruiting volunteers for the coordinator roles in the near future. Any interested individuals are encouraged to check the local media and the city’s website and social media sites for postings and information.
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