After concerns expressed in a petition changed the location of the Show & Shine this summer, Hot July Nights Car, Bike Show and Swap Meet key organizer Chuck Douglas says moving it to Centennial Park is the most problem-free way to have a great venue.
Since the petition with eight merchants' signatures against closing Birch Avenue mid-afternoon to set up "seemed firm," he adds the committee wants to hold a car show with the least amount of problems.
"They could have had a representative come to a meeting and voice those concerns and let us answer [them]. We weren't given that opportunity."
To be successful, the Show & Shine needs business support and all the possible parking spaces available, including the private lots set back from the road, Douglas says, adding eight merchants is 20 per cent of those affected “and that is significant.”
The park is a beautiful and comfortable location for people to enjoy the event, he notes, and the committee has made its decision with a permit now in place.
"We can't fight [the businesses] battle for them. If they have a controversy about merchants being in favour or not, they have to have that settled between them."
Meanwhile, petition organizer Jude Dion of Exeter Sporting Goods says he approached about a dozen merchants with the petition, and some of those who signed it wanted the event downtown, but only on a Sunday.
Dion notes closing the road at 2 p.m. would use up half of his business day.
"Sure there's 2,000 people downtown looking at cars, but there's not 2,000 people downtown looking to buy fishing lures and guns and ammo, or camping gear and clothes."
South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce manager Christine Jordaan informally polled businesses in January, and says Dion is the only one who was "clearly" opposed to it.
She notes he followed up with an e-mail which she sent to the event organizers.
"The majority of the feedback that we received was positive."
When organizers knew of one merchant who was definitely against the idea out of 40 affected, Jordaan says they decided to try to compromise and work around his concerns.
"But, when it balloons into eight, then you start saying, ‘OK, this is a message that we have to hear’."
Jordaan says the issue is not about the Show & Shine, but how to approach community events as a whole because there is no clear agreement on that in place.
"It's obviously an issue we need to address as a community."
Mayor Mitch Campsall says council has the final word on if, and when, road closures can occur, but in this case, it had already been moved to the park before the district was approached.
He adds it's unfortunate the volunteers, who have put a lot of dedicated work and effort into the event, are being placed in the middle of the controversy.
"In my own opinion, this is between the merchants."
Anyone interested in volunteering for the event is welcome to join the committee, with the next planning meeting to be held on March 9 at 7 p.m. at the district council chambers.
Contact Jordaan at 250-395-6124 for more information or visit www.hotjulynights.ca.
