STORY:
Calgary 2000 Back On Track

Lawmakers come up with funding averting cancellation of New Year' Eve event

Facing the threat of cancellation, the Calgary City Council opted to fund a portion of "Calgary's New Year's Eve" celebration with taxpayer money. The alderman heard a plea from the organizers of Calgary 2000 that said if the city didn't fund a portion of the $500,000 (CDN) needed to stage a series of city wide events, including a large fireworks show, the celebration won't be as big as organizers had wished.

City leaders gave party planners $235,000. The centerpiece for the free celebration will be concert at the Olympic Plaza by country star Michelle Wright. A portion of the concerts costs is being paid by a sponsor.

"Just about every city in the world is having a celebration," Alderman Patti Grier told the Calgary Sun. "I think people would ask where it was if we didn't have some sort of party. "

Plans call for fireworks shows at Stampede Park, Heritage Park and possibly Burns Stadium. Organizers reportedly say more than 300 companies have been contacted for possible sponsorships but the fund-raising efforts have, with one exception, met with little success to date.

Calgary has staged the popular and alcohol-free First Night celebrations in the past, but ended the practice after running into fundraising problems.

DATE: 07/27/99

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