Long Point Country Chamber of Commerce received $40,000 for
Sandpines Campfire Concerts. Long Point Country Bayfest received $40,000 to create a
concert for Bayfest
WRESTLEFEST will come to Port Dover next fall, thanks in part to a $20,000 county grant from Amplify Norfolk.
County councillors are scheduled to confirm this week a grant for the event at the Port Dover Community Centre.
The event, a collaboration of the Port Dover Board of Trade and Norfolk County Championship Wrestling, will feature two live professional wrestling performances: a family-friendly matinee and an evening show for older teens and adults.
No date was mentioned for the Wrestlefest show during last Tuesday’s discussion of awarding $100,000 in Amplify Norfolk grants for 2025.
Next year will be Amplify Norfolk’s second — and final — year offering matching grants to not-for-profit organizations to produce new live entertainment events any time of the year, except the prime months of July and August.
The idea has been to cut risk for groups seeking to create permanent events that will boost tourism in Norfolk.
The Long Point area will be the big winner for Amplify Norfolk grants next year.
Councillors last Tuesday voted to give Long Point Country Chamber of Commerce $40,000 to continue Sandpines Campfire Concert Series on June 28.
And Long Point Country Bayfest will get $40,000 to create an annual community concert in celebration of Bayfest.
The first concert will be on Sept. 27.
Amplify Norfolk has had a roller coaster ride over the years.
In 2021, in what was then known as Project Microphone, council set aside $375,000 for grants in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
No grants were awarded in the first two years because of COVID.
In 2023, under the new name of Project Amplify, the county granted $50,000 to the Norfolk Agricultural Society to start a Fairgrounds Festival in June and $30,000 to Waterford’s Old Town Hall and Waterford Lions to help with a Pumpkinfest concert in October.
In June 2024 councillors voted to discontinue the program.
In July they had second thoughts and, by a 5–4 vote, authorized a final year of grants for 2025.
Seven groups applied.
Last Tuesday councillors disqualified four of them for not meeting criteria: Lighthouse Festival Theatre, Norfolk Arts Council, Norfolk Malayali Association, and Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 125, Delhi.
That left three groups eligible for the three grants up for grabs: Long Point Country Chamber of Commerce, Long Point Country Bayfest and Port Dover Board of Trade.
Norfolk County Championship Wrestling has previously hosted events in Port Dover and Simcoe.
Amplify Norfolk funding will help expand next fall’s event in Port Dover to two shows and include appearances by retired wrestlers to attract larger audiences.
The grant will cover performer fees, while production costs will be shared by Championship Wrestling and the Board of Trade, reducing financial risks.
Port Rowan Coun. Tom Masschaele defended the two top grants going to groups in the same corner of Norfolk.
He said discussion shouldn’t be ward versus ward. Either grants are worthwhile or they’re not.
Delhi Coun. Mike Columbus was glad to see an end to Amplify Norfolk grants.
Council and staff have struggled with the program, finding it complicated and painful, he said.
“I hope it’s buried,” Coun. Columbus said.
Ironically, last Tuesday’s committee meeting opened with celebration of Norfolk winning national marketing and provincial tourism awards.
One award from the Economic Developers Association of Canada honoured Amplify Norfolk.
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Originally published December 18, 2024
