Busker festival could line Victoria streets
Busker Renaud Gagne shows his finesse with an acryllic ball on Government Street.
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Updated: September 03, 2009 4:51 PM
A group of organizers are hoping to bring a maritime summer party to the West Coast.
The Halifax International Buskers Festival has lined the streets of the East Coast city every year for two decades and the Citizens For the Government Street Pedestrian Mall believe it would be perfect for Victoria in July 2010.
"We did a survey of Government Street merchants a while back to see their openness toward doing this pilot," said group spokesperson John Vickers.
Merchant feedback indicated businesses weren't in favour of shutting the street to traffic for the festival during weekdays, so the group is looking at running the 10-day festival in the afternoons and evenings.
The Halifax-based organizers of the event have agreed to come to Victoria later this month to assess the viability of the city for the festival, Vickers said.
"There were a lot of similarities between Halifax and Victoria – a similar population and a beautiful waterfront. Hey, if it works and the cash registers ring, hopefully in 2011 the merchants will be first in line to say, 'John bring it back to us.'"
The general manager of the Downtown Victoria Business Association says a closure of the street could work, especially for a festival.
"I love it and I think the business and property owners on Government Street would love it as well," Ken Kelly said.
The event would also require a City of Victoria special event permit.
ecardone@vicnews.com
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