Town council has agreed to financially support a youth promoted anti-graffiti concert at the Ol' Moose Hall on Aug. 24.
On July 22 at town council's regular meeting, local musician Colin Langstraat, 18, and his brother Aaron, 16, appealed to council to grant them $400 to hold the concert.
“Our intent for the concert is to encourage the youth to report local graffiti to peace officers and to the RCMP,” said Colin, who is a drummer and vocalist for the group A Nobodies Achievement, while Aaron is a guitar player. “During the event we will be asking the peace officers for an engagement opportunity and for local youth to also recognize the RCMP.”
Council was told that the brothers had organized a similar concert late last year with the help of Coun. Jason Heistad.
Colin said the $400 would cover the rental cost of the hall and help pay for advertising and promotion. Council was told that the town has a $5,000 budget to control graffiti and that the request would not have an adverse financial impact on that funding.
Colin said other groups in Red Deer and Calgary will be invited to join in the event, and he hopes revenues from ticket sales will be able to go towards paying the bands. He said tickets purchased before the concert will cost $10 while those bought at the door will be sold for $12.
“If that doesn't cover it I'll pay out of my pocket,” said Colin, who has created a Facebook page to promote the event.
Heistad told council members he had confidence in the young musicians to successfully pull off a valuable service for the community and its young people.
“This would be an opportunity to utilize that budget to create awareness. I encourage these young guys as it is really important,” Heistad told council. “They have done a concert before, and what really impressed me about these guys is that they had about 50 people come out that night on a Sunday. If they have it on August 24 (Saturday) it is an ideal setting and time.
“I think any engagement with peace officers and the RCMP will be a hit. I am confident these young guys will get the right crowd out,” added Heistad.
After council approved the $400 request to support the anti-graffiti concert, Colin said he hoped the event would offer youth something fun and entertaining while raising awareness on an important local issue at the same time.
“There is not too terribly much for youth of Innisfail to get together to do, and that may be some of the cause for the graffiti and other vandalism,” said Colin. “So we are putting on a fun event to support local art and to keep the youth occupied that will hopefully bring the message that there is more we can do than just wreck the town.”
For more information on the Aug. 24 concert call Colin at 403-896-3423.
