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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-06-28, Page 3Wednesday, June 28, 2017 • Signal Star 3 Transfigured Town moves to Blyth Kathleen Smith Goderich Signal Star CORRECTION: Due to an editing error, an earlier version of this story included a mistake in the quote of Mayor Kevin Mor- rision. The story that was printed claimed that Mayor Morrison said, ':.. there was a motion made..." while he had actually said, "...there was no motion made..." after closed session. We apolo- gise for the error. The Transfigured Town Festival for this coming October, originally meant to be hosted in Goderich, has moved on to Blyth, Ontario. After months of Goder- ich Town- Council meet: ings and several condi- tions not being met or contracts and documents not provided by the Festi- val organizers as proof of a proper business plan, the event was pulled from Goderich. The much awaited event by Harry Potter© enthusi- asts would have brought approximately 9, 000 ticket holders to the town of Goderich. Although great for tour- ism, this amount of people coming into a town of a population smaller than 9, 000 makes safety, organiza- tion and planning high pri- orities for the Town Council. The Festival organizers, with good intentions, wanted to bring the Festival to Goderich, transforming the town into a magical world of witchcraft and wizardry. Unfortunately, condi- tions made in the first moments of collaboration between the Festival organizers and the Town Council were continu- ously not met and the organizers were given a couple of extensions in order for them to meet those conditions. Based on information from Council meetings and according to mem- bers of Council, one of the more important reasons that a final contract to move forward with the Festival was not passed, was due to the apparent. lack of business planning • by the organizers. Despite those issues, after months of Council meetings, the Town of Goderich and its Council in no way removed their support of the Festival remaining in Goderich. Rather, they provided extensions for the organ- izers to gain proper plan- ning documents and contracts. • "The Town of Goderich did not pull its support from the event. There were conditions that had to be met and Mr. Swartz con- firmed publicly that those conditions would be met by our last meeting. He was not in attendance. We went into a closed session to discuss that aswell as other matters, and when we rose from closed ses- sion, there was NO motion made, but we were also informed that Mr. Swartz, while we were discussing the Festival in Goderich, was pitching to North Huron, in which Blyth is located," Mayor Morrison explained. The Transfigured Town Festival has now been pulled from Goderich, and will be hosted up the road in Blyth, in one large area rather than spread out across a town. The decision to move to another town has of course created confusion to the ticket holders and disappointment of resi- dents and business own- ers that were taking part in the Festival. Despite the confusion, disappointment and change of location, the Transfigured Town Festi- val's organizers are mov- ing forward with their plans. • Based on information of the Festival's activities posted to Facebook, it will be an event of magic, entertain- ment and a chance to raise money for local community groups. The following is the official press release from the organ- izers of the Transfigured Town Inc.: Festival Organizers are confidently moving forward with their plans to create an immersive festival that will bring thousands of witches and wizards to Huron County. just down the road from Goderich is Blyth, Ontario, which was the organizer's first choice as a backup venue and both the Organizers and the Municipality of North Iluron are optimistic that plans and agreements will move forward smoothly and quickly. Nathan Swartz, President of Transfigured Town Inc. says, "It will offer more than 40 acres as opposed to the approximately 12 acres available in Goderich and is situated less than five min- utes walk from Blyth's downtown." Blyth, Ontario is an up and corning community that has recently received $3.3 million in provincial and RTO fund- ing to support the creation of a cultural hub, including beautiful renovations to the renowned Blyth Festival Theatre. There is also the recent addition of the new state of the art craft brewery; Cowbell Brewing Co. It also hosts the #1 rated restaurant in Ontario on Trip Advisor for the second year running The Bistro Part 11. Organizers met with North Huron Council last Monday, where council unanimously approved a motion for organizers to move forward with Munici- pal Staff One councillor even expressed desire for tickets to . the festival, which sold out in February of 2017. The Organizers have jok- ingly referred to Blyth as their 'Room of Require- ment' over the past several weeks. The 'Room of Requirement' was a magically hidden room inHogwarts where the Army of Dumbledore was able to meet and practice Defense Against the Dark Arts. Because venue change is not uncommon, Transfigured ed Town Inc, like all organized event planners, had identified four baclaip venues. Blyth was their first choice and they are very happy and excited about the level of knowledge and experience that the staff of North Huron have to offer this event. Although Blyth is only 15 minutes down the road, the Organizers also thought about the ticket holders living in Goderich and those who are staying in Goderich accommodations. "We have decided -to issue free parking passes to the guests of all Goderich Huron Superior Memorials • MONUMENTS • FLAT MARKERS • INSCRIPTIONS Appointments in the privacy of your own home anytime MICHAEL S. FALCONER - MANAGER RES 524-7679 • CELL 525-2281 accommodations which will allow on-site parking if it is presented with valid tickets," says Transfigured Town Inc. Vice President Amanda Swartz. "We will also be run- ning some shuttles to and from the event for residents of Goderich who have pur- chased tickets and may not have access to their own transportation."A valid ticket will be required to use these shuttles as well. There will be significant savings thanks to the move, which will allow the: Organ- izers to add to the already exciting entertainment line-up. "We have added Draco and the Malfoys (a popular Wizard Wrock Band), we have reached out to several well known celebrities and are looking at possibilities for other fun additions to the festival," says Nathan Swartz. As details are confirmed they will make announce- ments on their Facebook page: Transfigured Town Inc. and will be sending reg- ular notices to ticket holders using the emails they had provided when they pur- chased tickets. Most importantly there will be an amazing space for witches and wizards to gather from across the land to practice their swishes and flicks, listen to Wizard Wrock, escape the non -magical world, and raise money for the Huron Food Action Network and other local community groups. 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