DIDSBURY - Town council has approved a plan for use of the municipality’s share of the recently liquidated Mountain View Summer Games Legacy Fund, which was created following the 1984 games held in the district.
The fund was shut down earlier this year after there were no requests for funding in the last nine years. The Town of Didsbury’s share of the fund is $17,296.
In May council directed the strategic planning committee consider what might be done with the town’s share of the funds.
Earlier this month committee members were presented with several possible options for the creation of a sport-based legacy project for the community. Members agreed that a community mural project might be the best use of the funds.
“This is a community-based project that would see community members painting smaller tiles that focus on sport in specific colour themes. These tiles would be combined to create a larger mosaic art installation that displayed another sport-related theme,” administration said in a briefing note to council.
“A place could be utilized alongside this art piece to identify past and future local athletes. The mural could be installed inside the Didsbury Memorial Complex in a common area.”
An artist would need to be hired for the larger design concept, colour layout and to offer direction to community participants, council heard.
“Pricing for this type of project would be reasonable, as much of the project would be achieved through volunteer community effort. However, costs for supplies and a hired artist to oversee the project should fall within the funding available.”
A request was also made for the committee to research the possible development of a scholarship program for local athletes, with a maximum of $2,000 from the Mountain View Summer Games Legacy money being used for the project.
“Upon approval, administration would develop a potential policy framework for council’s consideration for a 2022 scholarship program.”
Council passed a motion reserving $15,296 now in the legacy fund for the future development of an interior community mural, and for $2,000 of the money to be used as seed money for an artistic scholarship in 2022.
