Finding volunteers to aid with the Alexandra Blossom Festival is “the biggest challenge” for the event, events manager Martin McPherson told the Vincent Community Board at its meeting on Monday (June 12).

The issue of volunteers came up when the board received an accountability report from Alexandra Blossom Festival Inc. for the 2022 event and activities, presented by BDO accountants partner Tim Coughlan.

“Has there ever been a calculation of how much the volunteer hours contribute?” board member Tracy Paterson asked.

Martin is also a board member but answered the question in his events manager role.

He said an economic impact report was done five or six years ago that valued the dollar amount.

“The best guess is 3,000 to 4,000 volunteer labour hours at $30 an hour,” he said. 

“Every year that volunteer input lessens to a degree and the biggest challenge is finding people to get involved.”

Most of the volunteers who worked the gates last year were in their 70s or older, he said.

The report showed that the festival cost $271,515.00, and it received $24500.00 from Vincent Community Board 2022/23 financial year promotions grant budget. The event earned revenue of $277,382, which included donations, fundraising and revenue from 

providing goods and services; plus investment income. That left a surplus of $5,867.

Martin said feedback from other funders was that it was prudent the entity was keeping reserves to weather financial and literal storms.

“Covid taught us that,” he said, explaining that the event had a $250,000 cost structure, most of which was spent prior to the event.

Saturday September 24, 2022 proved to be one of the most successful Blossom Festivals on record, the report stated. 

“Following the Covid enforced cancellation of our 75th anniversary celebrations in 2021 the local community and our supporters from around the country all looked forward to a return to normal following the Covid lock downs.” 

The Alexandra Blossom Festival also received approval for a promotions grant of $24,500 towards the 2023 event at the Vincent Community Board’s meeting on May 2. The newly approved grant would be funded from the 2023/2024 year financial year budget. 

PHOTO: The Central App