Plans for NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 summer fair are being reconfigured as barns on the fairground have been deemed unsafe.
The Vancouver Island Exhibition is happening Aug. 25-27 at the Beban Park fairgrounds.
On Monday, July 10, the VIEX released a statement saying that all five of the barns at the Beban Park site are not safe for public use. As a result, livestock will be moved elsewhere at the park and the home arts exhibition will be virtual.
Michelle Solloway, VIEX spokesperson, told the B次元官网网址 Bulletin that the City of Nanaimo requested the non-profit organization hire an engineer to examine the structures. It was deemed they are not in good shape, with 70 years of wear and tear and the back corner of one of the barns sinking into the ground.
B次元官网网址淲e did home arts online a few times through the pandemic, but people were really excited to have it back in person last yearB次元官网网址次元官网网址� Solloway said. B次元官网网址淚n the Centennial Building, we will have the poultry, the rabbits, smaller animals that we can put up on tables. Then down on the grounds, weB次元官网网址檝e got some big tents for our goats and sheep, and the bigger animals. And we actually have lots of horses coming back this year, so thatB次元官网网址檚 exciting.B次元官网网址�
The non-profit organization ultimately seeks an agricultural centre at Beban Park, anticipated to cost $6 million, and Solloway said plans to raise money are being developed.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to get through this year and then weB次元官网网址檝e really got to sit down and figure out our options,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 not really anywhere else to go. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no other options on the table. So I think [next steps include] figuring out getting the barns down and how weB次元官网网址檙e going to deal with that and probably some negotiations with the city on timelines.B次元官网网址�
Solloway said whether Beban Park is a viable site for future fairs is a tricky question.
B次元官网网址淚f we were to able to rebuild some facilities, I think we can make it work there B次元官网网址� I know a couple times weB次元官网网址檝e used the soccer field, but thatB次元官网网址檚 not always available. The buildings arenB次元官网网址檛 always available. ItB次元官网网址檚 really just a matter of space availability,B次元官网网址� she said.
The City of Nanaimo has been contacted for comment.
An Agricultural Land Commission application that would have relocated the VIEX to Nanoose BayB次元官网网址檚 Arbutus Meadows was denied, citing the scale of commercial use on agricultural land, a decision Solloway said she didnB次元官网网址檛 agree with. The non-profit has a year to appeal to the ALC.
B次元官网网址淚t seems unfair considering weB次元官网网址檙e a three-day event B次元官网网址� the rest of the year itB次元官网网址檚 all agricultural,B次元官网网址� Solloway said.
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