Let's Make Edmonton's 1st Winter Promenade Happen

Wouldn't it be wonderful to spend a Sunday afternoon during the December Holiday Season enjoying the beautiful views that Edmonton has to offer?

 

 

Can you just imagine enjoying live music being played in the gazebo? Walking down the Promenade, sipping on a warm beverage and nibbling on churros as you take in this amazing view? A FREE event for everyone to enjoy! Where we can showcase Edmonton's historical Victoria Promenade where people used to stroll on a Sunday afternoon, showing off their "Sunday Best", meeting friends and neighbours.

 

 

It is a lovely location with beautiful, unobstructed views of the river valley, and a hundred benches all along the promenade to sit and visit or relax . This area is so underutilized. The gazebo in Grant Notley Park and the little pocket lookouts that jut out on the Victoria Promenade would be perfect for musical entertainment. This neighbourhood has the highest density population in the city, and we need to liven up and revitalize this area.

 

 

This has been a dream of mine for years. Now it can actually come true! I have lined up musicians, street performers, carolers and food trucks. The City of Edmonton has given me conditional approval to have this event take place on Sunday, December 19, 2021.

 

I have a strong belief is supporting the whole community. That is why I also invited the Bissell Centre and Water Warriors to have information booths there. The Water Warriors will be collecting much needed items for the homeless of our city.

 

So what is stopping me? What is missing? Funds.

 

Unfortunately, there are huge costs associated with events. Even one as simple as this one.

 

Costs such as:

 

Various permit fees the City requires, as well as loss of income for them for using part of the adjacent parking lot for the food trucks.

Vending Fee

Event Fee

Rental of the Park

Rental of the Gazebo

Use of electricity fee

Rental of extra garbage cans from the city

Liability insurance is needed.

Registering as a non profit.

All the entertainers will need to be paid a fee or an honorarium.

Posters and ads need to be created and printed.

Security

First Aid

Safety vests for the volunteers

Feeding the volunteers

 

I am grateful to the volunteers who have come forward so far.

 

I am also grateful to:

 

Avila Arepa ,Donut Gypsies  and Smoke and Fire BBQ food trucks who have already signed on to participate.

and to

Chubby Cree, an Indigenous hand drum group who have kindly offered to perform pro bono, as a show of support and to give back to the community.

Thank you to the Silver Skate Festival Society for taking this event under its Not-for-profit umbrella. They can't fund the event but they are an incredible help.

I would also like to thank Bruno Mercier from National Bank Financial who is helping me navigate through trying to get sponsorships and who has also offered to be a sponsor. 
Thank you as well to the following Sponsors:

Bird Construction
The Oliver Community League
David Shepherd, MLA Edmonton City Centre

These sponsorships are a start but we need more to be able to put on this event.

 

And here is where the wonderful people of Edmonton come in.

 

TOGETHER, with your help and donations to this GoFundMe campaign, we can make The Edmonton Winter Promenade happen. We may even be able to make it an annual event.

 

Any amount you can spare would be appreciated. It all adds up. It takes a community to make beautiful things happen in our city!

 

Thank you,

 

Monique MacDonald