by Martin C. Barry
Article online since April 16th 2008, 11:02
For $2,000, residents of Côte St. Luc can buy a new a park bench to be dedicated to the memory of a loved under the city's sponsorship program.
CSL pursues sponsorship program, with less emphasis on corporations
The City of Côte St. Luc is going ahead with a money-raising initiative involving residents' sponsorship of various pieces of municipal property, like trees and park benches, but corporate 'naming' of larger infrastructure, such as a playing field or the arena, is being downplayed at least for the time being.
Côte St. Luc city councillor Mike Cohen provided an update on the progress of the program handled by city council's Toponomy and Sponsorship Committee at a recent meeting of the Côte St. Luc Senior Men's Club.
Cohen, who released a groundbreaking set of guidelines on naming rights last fall, revealed that the city has taken the step of delegating a recreation department employee, Brad Horner, to handle incoming sponsorship dossiers within Côte St. Luc's Public Affairs and Communications Department.
Horner listed a number of high-profile city events, including Canada Day and the winter carnival, in which corporate sponsors have begun collaborating. However, Cohen noted that the city has decided for now not to hire a specific fundraiser. Instead, departments are developing their own strategies.
For now, he said, the city is concentrating on the sale of trees for $500 and park benches for $2,000, dedicated to the memory of residents' loved ones. So far, according to Cohen, he has been approached by several residents expressing interest in sponsoring park benches.
He said that one resident, who has requested anonymity, has provided $2,000 to pay for new baby swings to be installed in Rembrandt Park. They are to be dedicated in memory of all the children who perished during the Holocaust.
"We're not looking at bringing in an enormous amount of money," Cohen said in an interview. "Basically the goal right now, and probably for the rest of the mandate of this council, is simply to subtly get the word out to the community and to people that these opportunities now exist."
Cohen said various departments of the city's administration, including public works, parks and recreation, EMS and the public library, are developing booklets and other materials listing various sponsorship options. In addition to the naming benefits residents can obtain by becoming sponsors, Cohen said the city gains from the program.
"If I were to go to the city and ask them for a park bench, they might not have funds for that in the budget and it might not be a necessity so we have to wait," he said. "But if someone comes forward and says they want to put a bench in Rembrandt Park, then that money's not coming out of our budget." Regarding corporate sponsorship, Cohen suggested the city is being cautious.
"We're not going to turn away a corporate sponsor, but, honestly, I think that may be a couple of years down the road before we really move in that direction," he said. "Not to say that we might not get lucky in the next few months with some of the people we meet with. But we're going to be very careful."
Cohen, who released a groundbreaking set of guidelines on naming rights last fall, revealed that the city has taken the step of delegating a recreation department employee, Brad Horner, to handle incoming sponsorship dossiers within Côte St. Luc's Public Affairs and Communications Department.
Horner listed a number of high-profile city events, including Canada Day and the winter carnival, in which corporate sponsors have begun collaborating. However, Cohen noted that the city has decided for now not to hire a specific fundraiser. Instead, departments are developing their own strategies.
For now, he said, the city is concentrating on the sale of trees for $500 and park benches for $2,000, dedicated to the memory of residents' loved ones. So far, according to Cohen, he has been approached by several residents expressing interest in sponsoring park benches.
He said that one resident, who has requested anonymity, has provided $2,000 to pay for new baby swings to be installed in Rembrandt Park. They are to be dedicated in memory of all the children who perished during the Holocaust.
"We're not looking at bringing in an enormous amount of money," Cohen said in an interview. "Basically the goal right now, and probably for the rest of the mandate of this council, is simply to subtly get the word out to the community and to people that these opportunities now exist."
Cohen said various departments of the city's administration, including public works, parks and recreation, EMS and the public library, are developing booklets and other materials listing various sponsorship options. In addition to the naming benefits residents can obtain by becoming sponsors, Cohen said the city gains from the program.
"If I were to go to the city and ask them for a park bench, they might not have funds for that in the budget and it might not be a necessity so we have to wait," he said. "But if someone comes forward and says they want to put a bench in Rembrandt Park, then that money's not coming out of our budget." Regarding corporate sponsorship, Cohen suggested the city is being cautious.
"We're not going to turn away a corporate sponsor, but, honestly, I think that may be a couple of years down the road before we really move in that direction," he said. "Not to say that we might not get lucky in the next few months with some of the people we meet with. But we're going to be very careful."
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