Bullet News
iagara Parks Commission chairwoman Janice Thomson and general manager Fay Booker vote in favour of Cochrane request for funding
JOHN ROBBINS and PETER CONRADI/Bullet News
The Tourism Partnership of Niagara is giving serious consideration to a request to spend $180,000 to help cover the cost of bringing famed aerialist Jay Cochrane back to Niagara Falls this year for a summer of performances, walking a thin cable stretched between the Hilton hotel and the Skylon Tower.
On Monday, members of the agency’s board of directors voted unanimously to give further study and consideration to the request for funding, which also enjoys support from Niagara Falls Tourism and the Fallsview Business Improvement Area association.
Among those who supported Monday’s decision were Niagara Parks Chairwoman Janice Thomson, who sits on TPN’s board as a representative of tourism interests in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Fay Booker, NPC’s general manager. Both Thomson and Booker have been cold to the idea of a separate proposal by wirewalker Nik Wallenda, who is hoping to cross the Niagara Gorge between Canada and the United States near the Horseshoe Falls on a three-inch cable sometime this year.
Wallenda asked for and was refused permission for such a walk from the NPC board late last year. He’s supposed to get another crack at convincing the NPC to approve his plan, following a meeting last Friday with Ontario Tourism Minister Michael Chan.
During an interview with Bullet News Monday evening, Thomson said what she supported Monday was sending the Cochrane proposal to TPN’s “strategy committee” for further study and possible inclusion as one of several “blockbuster” events in 2012 to receive sponsorship funding from the provincial tourism marketing agency.
“I’m not against looking at (the Cochrane proposal) as an event for the whole region,” said Thomson, who said her role as Parks chairwoman is different than her role on TPN’s board. Thomson is executive director of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce and Visitor and Convention Bureau.
Thomson has consistently spoke against allowing Wallenda to attempt a walk across the Niagara Gorge near the Horseshoe Falls.
The regional tourism organizations are relatively new initiatives set up in 2009 by the Dalton McGuinty government to help foster and enhance tourism in the province. They are non-profit organizations comprised of stakeholders in the tourism sector. The government allotted $65 million over the first two years for the 13 organizations across the province. The Niagara group received $3 million in 2010 and $3.2 million for 2011.
One of the biggest boosters of a return visit by Cochrane is Niagara Falls city Coun. Wayne Thomson, who also sits on the TPN board. Coun. Thomson said a formal proposal from Cochrane was received by TPN several months ago. He said he was encouraged by Monday’s decision, which moves the proposal one step closer to reality.
“Is it a done deal? Absolutely not,” said Coun. Thomson. “But as you saw there were not adverse comments during the meeting.”
Coun. Thomson, who has been something of go-between Cocharne and the tourism industry stakeholders during past performance seasons, said the plan for this year would see Cochrane walk seven days a week between July and Labour Day. The $180,000 that has been requested of the TPN would help underwrite Cochrane’s fees, as well as equipment and transportation costs and other incidental expenses.
Coun. Thomson said such an investment of public funding should be considered a bargain, given the relatively low cost of supporting the event and all of the pre-walk publicity Cochrane’s return to Niagara Falls would garner for the city.
“It works out to something like $3,500 a day,” he said. “That’s an extremely reasonable price for such a spectacular event – one that can draw a lot of people to the area.”
Coun. Thomson, who has also been supportive of Wallenda’s bid for a one-time river crossing, said a decision about funding the Cochrane proposal needs to be made soon.
“This isn’t something that can wait a couple of months,” he said. “It either happens within the next few weeks or it’s off (the table) until next year.”
By comparison, TPN was asked to endorse Wallenda’s bid last fall but declined to do so, even though he made no request for financial assistance and has said he plans to cover all of his own costs.
Reached for comment at his home in Sarasota, Fla. Monday evening, Wallenda said he’s “extremely excited” that TPN is considering funding the Cochrane proposal.
“I’m happy for Jay Cochrane. Power to him. The guy has done some great things,” said Wallenda, who said support for Cochrane may mean his own fortunes are about to change.
“I think that if anything this shines a light on the fact that Janice (Thomson) and Fay (Booker) are changing their minds on everything they thought about tightrope walking,” said Wallenda. “It seems like they have had a change of heart, which is very positive for me. That’s a great thing. If they are willing to support tightrope walking in Niagara Falls, it can’t be anything but great for me.”
Wallenda said he and Janice Thomson spoke by telephone on Saturday – the day following his meeting with the tourism minister – and the two could meet again as early as next week to discuss his desire to have the NPC reconsider his request.
Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati is also choosing to interpret the discussions at TPN in a positive light.
“I see this as perhaps indicating a change of heart from the people at the Niagara Parks Commission,” Diodati said in an interview Monday evening. “Maybe they are now realizing what the Wallenda walk will mean to Niagara Falls and they will greet him with this newfound enthusiasm when they have their second meeting with him. How can the Parks be opposed to Nik and support Jay?
“I have been supportive (of Jay Cochrane and Nik Wallenda) from the beginning because it’s part of our cultural and historic heritage, and I think (Cochrane) would be a tremendous lead up to the big walk … the big international walk.”
Wallenda has provided an economic impact prediction of 120,000 people watching the attempted crossing live and spending an estimated $20.5 million. That number, Wallenda said, would balloon to $122 million of ‘legacy spending’ after five years. This includes money generated by repeat visitors or first-time visitors to Niagara Falls, who would come after viewing the show live, or on news reports or through special programs.
There’s already a confirmed deal with the Discovery Network that would allow the spectacle to be viewed live by more than 400 million people around the world, and at least another 60 million would see it through news broadcasts or entertainment shows.
Janice Thomson has said she does not feel any pressure to allow Wallenda to make the walk, despite the fact that so many seem to want this to happen.
“We’re committed to doing the right thing for this area and we feel that sustainable tourism is the future in Niagara – not one day activities,” she said.
Thomson has said she fears others will seek permission to perform stunts on the Parks Commission. Cochrane has also applied to perform a feat similar to Wallenda’s and has also been rejected.
