Overview of how "CEDEC Revitalization" contributed positively to community economic growth through the development of local festivals.

1. Festival Impact on a
small community.

2. Shigawake, Quebec
Population: 338
Industry: Farming and fishing
Fairground opened in 1909
Shigawake Music Festival: held in the 2nd
weekend of August since 2009
A simple fair for a small town.
Shigawake

3. Hand -drawn map showing
fairground expansion project.
In 2010 the Agricultural
Society developed a plan.
Those plans started with
some simple
developments for an
animal shelter and an
upgrade to a canteen.
Diversification?
Vendors not
really present in
past years.
Multi-use animal
shelter?

4. Part of the plan was to introduce agricultural
vendors back to the site during the fair.
Agricultural vendors would be using the
animal shelter as vending booths during
other days of the year.

5. After the renovation project
was completed, the
Agricultural Society used the
grounds to host the first
Local Products Festival.
Two parts
Beer and cheese night
• Art exhibit
• Local microbrew
• 6 local cheeses
Market day
• 36 vendors
• 1000+ visitors
• $2,000 in revenues to
the Agricultural Society
A fundraiser, the Local
Products Festival has
unanticipated spinoffs.

6. Goat
shelter
Local
Products
Festival
A renewed
community
interest
Finding based on the first Festival: public
markets have considerable potential…
An event combining testimonials, workshops
and discussions is organized, bringing together
farmers, would-be farmers, etc.
Various subjects are discussed:
• The shortage of manpower – how do we fix this?
• Regulations on selling – what permits do we
need?
• How do I become a farmer?
The activity is a big success!

7. Agricultural Fair and Festival
Line-ups
at the
new
canteen!
Local
products
for sale at
the animal
shelter!
New dance
floor full!

8. … and of course: happy goats!
(Note: no vendors on goat day for
fear of goats eating product through
the fence!)

9. So with the increasing popularity of the Fair, and the events
associated with the Fairgrounds, the municipality of Shigawake
was in need of some development of its own.
The tourism committee picked a central location to develop a
campground.

10. Municipality
• Rest area
• Skating rink
• Log cabin
• Trails through woods
• Family park
Project
• New restrooms
• New family equipment
• Park walk path
• Cleared away campsites
• Showers
• Log cabin kitchen upgrade
Result
• Fully operational revenue-
making campsite for the
municipality
• Cantine business started on
site

11. Goat
shelter
Local
Products
Festival
Campground,
upgraded
park

12. Goat
shelter
Local Products
Festival
Campground,
upgraded park
Agricultural
training,
entrepreneurial
training
More spinoffs:
• Agricultural
workshops
• Local Products
Showcase

13. 2nd Local Products Festival –
Shigawake
Two parts:
• Beer and cheese night
- Art exhibit
- Local microbrew
- 6 local cheeses
• Market day
- 40 vendors
- 1,000+ visitors
- $2,000 in revenues to
Agricultural Society
- A student job created
With new young entrepreneurs…

14. In 2014, the Agricultural
Society decided on more
upgrades to the site:
• Information booths
• Ticket booths
• Grandstand
• Vendor kiosks
• New bathrooms
• Upgrade to canteen (to
cut down on line-ups)
• Elevator to handicrafts
• New windows upstairs
• New small grandstands at
gymkhana ring
• Musicians lounge off
dancehall

15. Without government help, the
Agricultural Society used its own profits
to build the grandstand.

16. Bringing on change!
Market Row…
Changing direction after 105 years
is not easy..

17. New volunteers, new ideas!
Lawn tractor race, hospitality suites,
equipment vendors, food stalls, a second
stage…

18. New young
entrepreneurs
of all kinds.
Vending
Musicians
Entertainers
Etc

19. New volunteer
activities,
fundraising, other
exciting uses for
the grounds.
Thirsty Thursdays
Horse hauls
Expo
Practice ring

20. ARTS AND CULTURE
Local musicians have the opportunity
to show off their skills and play with the
pros…

21. JOB CREATION
The job hires a student every year to
coordinate the volunteers. The last two years,
two students have been hired to handle
various aspects of the festival.
Over the summer months often a secretary is
hired full time.
A secretary is hired part time over the rest of
the year.

22. In 2016, the Agricultural Society
has been approved for funding from
the RCM, the Caisse Desjardins,
and the municipality…
…to upgrade the canteen,
build a musicians lounge,
and build wheelchair-
accessible bathrooms.
Project value: $37,000

23. Shigawake Fair and Music Festival
averages from 2013 to 2015
• 30-40 vendors
• Over 30 musicians (over $25,000 paid
out to musicians)
• Nearly $7,000 paid out in prize money
• Nearly $10,000 paid out to local
workers
• Over $10,000 made by the
Agricultural Society
• Over $50,000 spent at local
businesses by the Agricultural Society
• More than 6,000 visitors to the site
over four days
Total event revenues : $87,000
Shigawake population (don’t forget) = 338

24. So let’s
calculate…

29. So, what does all this mean?
Goat
shelter
Local Products
Festival
Campground,
upgraded park
Agricultural
training,
entrepreneurial
training
Vendors at Fair
Growth of
business, network,
market…
New infrastructures,
new $
New vendors/entrepreneurs
at Fair $
Municipal
revenues
Jobs, $
$$$$
Local benefits
Enhanced Fair
and festival

30. Examples?

31. Thank you!