‘Getting council support for big conference would be easier if it was sports tournament’

NEWS — A proposal to bring a major convention to Kamloops in return for a $50,000 sponsorship might have gotten more support from council if it was a sports tournament, Coun. Donovan Cavers suggested today (Tuesday).

A proposal to bring the Building Sustainable Communities conference to town in February next year certainly didn’t fall on deaf ears but the idea of a major City investment to get it here received a tepid response around the council table.

The four-day event has always been held in Kelowna, where it attracted 600 delegates and speakers from about 80 communities last year.

The Fresh Outlook Foundation, which hosts the conference, wants to move it to Kamloops but wants $50,000 to help deliver it. The money would get the City title sponsorship status.

Cavers, who has attended the conference, encouraged the foundation to consider moving it to Kamloops. With no interest by councillors for writing a $50,000 cheque, however, he suggested a $35,000 contribution, with staff working with other agencies to find the rest.

Tourism Kamloops, TRU, Urban Systems and Venture Kamloops have indicated interest in the conference.

“I have no appetite for it at all,” said Mayor Peter Milobar. “We’re not in the conference business.”

“What I worry about is the sustainability of our taxpayers to pay the bills,” said Coun. Marg Spina. “We have to stay the course.”

That’s when Cavers remarked that a sports event would probably have an easier time getting support. He also pointed out that council backed the Thrive Festival — which lasted only a year and lost money — with $75,000.

The BCS conference would be in Kamloops at least several years.

But Coun. Arjun Singh didn’t like the cost, either, though he praised Cavers for his efforts in attracting the conference. “You’ve worked really hard.”

More reluctant to shut the door was Coun. Pat Wallace, who felt council should gather more information before turning it down. She suggested holding off on a decision but backed off when Milobar told her she’d have to make a tabling motion and other councillors started jumping in.

“I’ll wait till my colleagues quit waving at me,” she said.

Milobar didn’t like the idea of staff trying to round up other sponsors. “I have a big problem with that.”

Cavers withdrew his motion and Singh made one offering $5,000 and a letter of support.

Cavers was confident that won’t convince the conference organizers to move the event out of Kelowna.