Greater Sudbury Receives Top Award for Ontario Festivals and Events

The City of Greater Sudbury is proud to accept the Festivals and Events Ontario 2015 Municipality of the Year Award.

Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) presented the award to Greater Sudbury in the category of municipalities with a population over 150,000, during the annual FEO Awards Gala and Conference held in Niagara Falls on Friday, March 6.

“It’s a tremendous honour to be recognized by our peers and industry experts for excellence in supporting, sustaining and growing festivals and events in our community,” said Mayor Brian Bigger.

“The City of Greater Sudbury has so many amazing festivals and events that showcase our friendly, caring and vibrant city. The achievement of this award is made possible through strong partnerships between our community and organizers and volunteers who dedicate thousands of hours to deliver quality experiences for both residents and visitors. Congratulations to our City employees for their commitment to exceptional customer service and to our citizens who support these special events.”

Each year, more than 100 special events take place on City property, ranging from concerts and festivals to sports and trade shows on both a large and a small scale. Direct support for organizers is delivered through Greater Sudbury Leisure Services and Greater Sudbury Tourism and Culture in cooperation with a wide range of municipal service divisions.

Many services are provided by the City of Greater Sudbury to event organizers, including planning and promotional assistance, strategies for volunteer recruitment, funding and/or insurance coverage, coordination of regulatory requirements, site preparation, equipment and supplies, shuttle service, waste management, and direct on-site support during the event. Organizing groups receive individualized attention in recognition of the unique nature of each event.

The City also maintains unique venues for special events, including the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre in Bell Park with a seating capacity of 1,961 and additional capacity for over 5,000 in surrounding grounds, the Sudbury Arena with a capacity for 4,940 and Whitewater Lake Park in Azilda with a capacity for over 2,000 people. The Laurentian University track is a popular destination for track and field events with a seating capacity of over 2,500 in its stadium and bleachers.

About FEO:

FEO has represented the festivals and events industry in Ontario for over 25 years, providing education, professional development and networking opportunities to help develop, represent, enhance and promote unique, quality festivals in communities across the province. Membership includes festival and event organizers, suppliers, municipalities, schools, students, business improvement areas, regional tourism and destination marketing organizations, and more.

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