Midsummer’s Eve of the Arts is the highlight of the social calendar, but a new location is raising eyebrows.
The Vernon Art Gallery has asked the City of Vernon for permission to hold the annual fundraiser in Cenotaph Park July 20. However, 31st Avenue could be torn up as part of proposed road construction.
“It’s not the event I would think to put on in a construction zone,” said Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe.
That is a concern shared by Coun. Shawn Lee, who believes construction could be disruptive.
“Should they take a stroll to other works to see what’s going on?” he said.
Vernon Art Gallery officials selected Cenotaph Park as a one-time only location for Midsummer’s Eve as a way of celebrating the 25th anniversary of the event.
"We’d like to do something spectacular,” said president Marion Morrison, adding that the location would increase the profile of the gallery and downtown.
“We want to show all of the things we can do downtown.”
Morrison believes the event can be accommodated in a construction zone.
“We could screen it (park) and the construction won’t be going on at night,” she said.
“If it’s not going to work, we will take the event back to the Caetani Cultural Centre.”
Mayor Wayne Lippert has a suggestion if the gallery is looking for another location.
“Maybe Polson Park and the new pavilion would work better for them,” he said.
The city’s finance committee is currently considering a request from the gallery for $2,000 for fencing Cenotaph Park.
