By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Local residents can look forward to a rare opportunity June 22, when the RCMP Musical Ride come to Donegan Park.
Cobourg council approved the costs at Monday’s committee-of-the-whole meeting. The hosting costs will be split half-and-half with Belleville (where there is also an appearance) at about $6,500 each for things like stabling the horses. Event co-ordination costs like bleachers, staffing, security and other rentals are estimated at $14,235.
It’s quite an opportunity, said the report by Culture, Events and Tourism Manager Jackie Chapman Davis – Cobourg last hosted the RCMP Musical Ride in 2012.
It is planned that the $20,000 cost be recovered through ticket sales and, in the motion to approve the expense, Councillor Adam Bureau added an amendment – that a report be brought back to council on whether costs were actually recovered.
Sporting his Movember moustache, Director of Community Service Brian Geerts said the opportunity came about when the RCMP reached out to the town to see if they were interested in hosting a show.
“This is an opportunity that comes about once in a decade,” he said, describing their rotating schedule of hitting venues nationwide to make sure Canadians everywhere can enjoy the spectacle.
The outdoor venue is a risk, Geerts acknowledged. Inclement weather could cut revenues by one-third to one-half. But the date is early in the tourism season, and there will be ample chance to recoup any losses later.
Councillor Brian Darling voiced a preference for referring the cost to the 2024 budget process, but Geerts said that the RCMP requires a confirmed booking by early December.
“I have to say I have seen this on two separate occasions,” Councillor Randy Barber reported.
“It’s a magnificent event, it truly is. These numbers are well within our ability to do, so I certainly will be going with some friends from out of the country.”
Mayor Lucas Cleveland had seen the show in Ottawa.
“I don’t belittle the amount of $20,000,” Cleveland said.
“But we are becoming a destination, and sometimes that means you have to spent some money on that as well.”
