The society that organized two tall ships festivals in Victoria has dissolved due to a lack of money.
The Victoria Tall Ships Society staged festivals in 2005 and 2008, but was unable to raise sufficient funds to mount a followup event that matched the standards of the first two, said president David Winkler.
“We, at this time, are not able to guarantee our ability to pay for a festival,” he said in an interview.
Faced with that reality, the board, which formed in 2003, passed a motion Nov. 3 to dissolve the society.
Once bills get paid, any remaining assets will be distributed evenly between Sail and Life Training Society (SALTS) and the Maritime Museum of B.C.
Winkler said he’s confident a tall ships festivals will return to Victoria at some point.
“We all really enjoyed the ones that we did put on,” he said. “But one does have to be realistic about these things. So it isn’t as if there’ll never be another festival, it’s just that it won’t be at this time.”
