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Divers/Cité
still How successful does a festival have to be before it gets some respect, or at least some dough? That’s what the organizers of Divers/Cité, the annual gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender pride celebration, would like to know. Now in its 10th year, Divers/Cité has received exactly zero dollars from the federal government, despite bringing in some $40-million last year. “We’re wondering why we don’t get recognition and respect, considering the number of tourists we bring in,” says Divers/Cité spokesperson Suzanne Gérard. “We’ve asked various government bodies for $275,000, but we haven’t had any news, we don’t know anything. We’re starting to think, ‘What do we have to do?’” Gérard points out that, over three years starting in 2000, Economic Development Canada dished out almost $1-million to the FrancoFolies, $1.5-million to the Jazz Fest and $2.5-million to Just for Laughs. None of these festivals, she says, generates the tourist bucks Divers/Cité does. While she does acknowledge the festival has been assisted by the Quebec government and Tourism Montreal, the feds are noticeably absent in their support. The recent decree by Ralph Goodale, the federal Minister of Public Works, has ensured that probably no money will be allocated this year. Unlike
the other festivals, Gérard says Divers/Cité makes the
bulk of its money on its own, through sponsorships, beer sales and individual
donations. “I don’t know of any other festival that make
$40-million that has to pass around the bucket,” she says. : |