by Sue Nielsen
Speaker Reporter
TEMISKAMING SHORES — STATO Board of Directors Danielle Belanger-Corbin and Lauzon Stoneworks Ltd. owner Ron Lauzon approached City Hall recently about beginning a unique partnership fundraising project that will help beautify the Haileybury waterfront and raise important funds for the multi-use activity trail project.
They outlined their “Ads in Stone” concept at the Tuesday, August 24 council meeting and by all accounts Temiskaming Shores council was more than impressed with the idea.
“It was an excellent presentation, I was so impressed and I think it is an excellent idea. I applaud the STATO people who persevere through the verbal attacks that they have had to go through by some people. They aren’t doing this for any personal gain. These are volunteers, countless volunteers in this municipality who are trying to beautify this place and connect our three former municipalities,” said Mayor Judy Pace.
PROJECT
She thinks the project will be an exciting economic development project that will boost tourism and beautify the waterfront.
Mrs. Belanger-Corbin said it’s a win-win concept that involves no cost to the municipality or taxpayers, but will provide far reaching benefits to both partners, beautify the city, help local artists, solicit potential sponsors and the community as a whole will prosper.
The premise behind the project is to create advertisements in stonework that will be installed along the Haileybury waterfront.
The ads can be anything from local artists creations, to corporate logos, pictures of loved ones, of nature scenes, family crests etc.
STATO says the ads can be placed in sidewalks, on boulders, kilometer markers can also be installed along the stonework at the Haileybury waterfront or along portions of the trail or adjacent to the trail where terrain allows.
Private sponsors will have their names engraved or sandblasted around a stone advertisement, if local artists are involved they would receive royalties from the usage of their artwork.
For instance, a 10 foot by 10 foot storyboard could potentially have 38 sponsor spots that could be sold on an annual basis or for a one time fee.
STATO says there is a potential for 3,030 private storyboards sponsors, 1,080 corporate and local business sponsors, 350 step sponsors and 100 boulder sponsors at the Haileybury waterfront.
CONCEPT
The “Ads in Stone” concept can be used to translate a corporate message or can be personalized for individual corporate values and the concept is a way to keep the community well-kept and clean said Mrs. Belanger-Corbin.
Maintenance would be done on the stonework at the Haileybury waterfront by Lauzon Stoneworks Ltd. that includes repairs to rotten wood, broken stairs and overgrown interlocking brickwork.
She told council the fundraiser is a way to attract corporate and individual sponsors to help sustain the STATO trail project as money is sometimes hard to find.
STATO believes the project will put the activity trail on the map and will likely result in a tourist attraction when completed.
“It’s a great idea,” said Councillor Mike Pearson, “ Can we have regular reports about your progress?” he asked.
BENEFITS
Potential benefits of the project were presented to council during a power point presentation:
The municipality would become a more interesting tourist attraction, promoting local heritage as well as maintained walkways, parks and beaches.
Sponsors would be recognized, the idea will present a positive marketing approach, support the arts and be a community preservation and promotion tool.
Local artists would also be promoted and have opportunities for income based on royalties.
STATO would be self-sufficient with the income potential, and the idea will create a revenue stream and proven marketing tool.
The public will be connected through the project, take pride in the heritage angle, have better upkeep of public spaces and will participate in the program.
The contractor, Lauzon Stoneworks Ltd., will create local employment, and perhaps be a future stepping stone for future municipal projects.
STATO asks that the municipality approve the use of municipal land to install stonework, permission to move forward and beautify the area and permission to work in partnership with the City.
City council gave their unanimous backing for the project to move forward.
STATO will now move forward and create a sponsorship sub-committee, consult local artists, create a STATO corporate office and meet with potential corporate sponsors and special interest groups said Mrs. Belanger-Corbin.
For more information on the project contact STATO at 647-6645.