Organizers hoping to ride the wave of momentum created by last year’s tidal bore surfing in Moncton have been told ‘no.’
The idea of an annual Muddy River Festival has been rejected by city staff, but some councillors are upset the proposal didn’t come up for debate.
Last July, two surfers from California and two from Canada rode the tidal bore on the Petitcodiac River, setting a world record with the 29-kilometre ride from Belliveau Village, N.B. to Moncton.
“With the surfers it was really a game changer,” says Pierre Landry, the Petitcodiac Riverkeeper President. “I think we now realize that it’s actually a tourist attraction.”
An attraction a group called the Muddy River Festivase wanted to expand. Their idea was to create an annual festival, celebrating the river and the tidal bore with events, including mudslides and concerts.
The proposal was submitted on November 4, 2013, but city staff told organizers there was no money for the event, and it was left out of the December budget deliberations.
Festival organizers had asked for $20,000 in sponsorship from the city. The plan was to hold the event around the full moon cycles in June, July or August when tides are higher.
For safety reasons, the events would be held along the river - not on it or on its banks – and the surfing would be left to the pros.
Councillors say they only found out about the festival proposal last week.
“I was extremely surprised to see that we had a proposal and nothing had happened with it,” says Coun. Dawn Arnold. “We hadn’t even talked about it.”
“I’m a bit surprised it never did get to council but I think it’s just a question of time,” adds Coun. Charles Leger.
Leger is hopeful there’s still time for the city to get on board this year.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Jonathan MacInnis
