Northlands to cease operations, Explore Edmonton to manage K-Days
Explore Edmonton is taking over K-Days and Farmfair International as of July 5 and Northlands is ceasing its operations.
Explore Edmonton interim CEO Maggie Davison said the city agency will take on the responsibility "with a mandate to reimagine and reinvent" the events. While she called the new chapter an exciting one, Davidson noted in an announcement on Thursday "the moment is very bittersweet."
Northlands -- the non-profit organization that would later host the NHL at its Coliseum and horse racing at its track -- originated in 1879, first as a livestock and farm exhibition.
But recently, the organization faced many challenges which were exacerbated by the pandemic, according to president and CEO of two years Peter Male. He said the organization was in the middle of figuring out how to breathe new life into K-Days and Farmfair International when COVID-19 "just wiped us off the map."
"We were looking at the picture from a high level and going, 'Look, there's duplication of infrastructure, duplication of costs all over the place," Male recalled.
He added it "made good sense" for the city's tourism department to take them on since it had begun to manage operations of the EXPO Centre.
"(Northlands) has left an indelible mark on Edmonton and will always be a treasured part of the city's history.
"We are all very proud of the legacy of our organization, a legacy that truly belongs to the dedicated staff, the tireless volunteers who have sustained Northlands for almost a century and a half. On behalf of everyone at Northlands, I want to sincerely thank them for their dedication to the organization and to Edmonton."
FARMFAIR 2021 A GO
Davison declined to reveal Explore Edmonton's plans for Northlands employees, saying the details were still being worked through.
As for the thousands of volunteers who help put on the big events, she said they would be contacted about remaining involved.
Of the future vision for the summer festival and agriculture exhibition, she said Explore Edmonton would be looking for the public's feedback over the summer.
"We'll definitely be building back Farmfair International to its former glory because we do take pride in our agriculture activities, and we want EXPO and Edmonton to be the place for the future of Farmfair International," Davison commented, confirming plans that event would go forward in the fall.
"It will likely look a little different than previous years, but we think it's important to let partners and stakeholders know we do plan to move ahead."
And K-Days 2022 "needs to be nothing short of spectacular," Davison said. Northlands cancelled K-Days 2021 on June 1, citing a "hard look" at whether it "could deliver a high-quality event given limited timelines and resources."
Because Explore Edmonton hadn't, at the time, planned on putting on Farmfair, it will be making a funding request of the city, its CEO confirmed.
In 2020, the City of Edmonton asked Explore Edmonton and Northlands to look at the feasibility of working together to host K-Days and Farmfair International, and what was the most sustainable path forward for both the organization and the events. Over the winter, the parties confirmed publicly they were exploring options.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
BREAKING Toronto mayor hints that WNBA team is coming to the city, marking the first franchise in Canada
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says that she is hopeful an announcement could be made soon amid multiple reports that a WNBA team is coming to Toronto in 2026.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
Ontario coroner to investigate death of man who suffered cardiac arrest while waiting in ER
A provincial coroner will be investigating the death of 68-year-old David Lippert, who suffered a cardiac arrest while waiting in a crowded emergency room in Kitchener, Ont.
Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Federal government bans watercraft from Manitoba lake popular with tourists
The threat of zebra mussels has prompted the federal government to temporarily ban watercraft from a Manitoba lake popular with tourists.
Her SUV was stolen in Montreal. A Good Samaritan on Facebook helped her get it back
Just as she had feared, a restaurant owner from eastern Quebec who visited Montreal had her SUV stolen, but says it was all thanks to the kindness of strangers on the internet — not the police — that she got it back.