Re: "Victoria snubbed as host of 2014 Juno music awards," Oct. 4.
Victoria will be passed over by another major event with the Juno Awards going to Winnipeg.
Cited in the decision from Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences was that our bid had a smaller arena (capacity 7,000) and lacked infrastructure in other areas deemed integral to hosting the annual Junos bash.
It seems to me that the history of the design and build of the current Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre was meant to support a regional view to sport and entertainment, but the regional funding did not materialize, hence a smaller and apparently inadequate (for the Junos) building.
Couple this with Ironman Canada saying no thanks to multiple jurisdictions in staging a world-class event, and you can see how our fractured system of local government does not do organizers any favours.
What will be the tipping point in getting our region to seriously look at amalgamation? The mayors aren't leading on this topic. Should it be the province?
Where is the loud voice of the local chambers of commerce on this? Can we not get at least a non-binding ballot on the next municipal ballot in all municipalities?
Someone step up, and step up soon before we lose another event, and the investments that go with it.
Kelly Mann
Victoria
