DWBIA drops parade funding to focus on other downtown priorities

The Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association is pulling its funding for the Canada Day and Santa Claus parades.

DWBIA vice chair Pat Papadeas says the consensus was to support other ventures which would benefit members.

“We all love a good parade, but what we need to focus on is cleaning up the downtown, making sure we reduce vacancies in the downtown that we continue with safe and clean programs,” says Papadeas.

Papadeas says the DWBIA will no longer financially support the parades, which cost the membership $40,000 a year.

She says if another sponsor steps-up, her group will continue to welcome the parades.

She says the decision was strictly financial, as association members want to go in a different direction.

“It’s really sad,” says Maggie Durocher, director of the Windsor Parade Corporation. “I’m not surprised, however, last year when we met with the DWBIA, there was a reluctance even then.”

Durocher says she is now seeking other sponsors.

“I would hope somebody would see the value in the parades and choose to be the sponsor,” says Durocher.