Government Partnerships
Partnerships are important to sustaining a non-profit organization
that seeks a long-term existence. Since the Edmonton Agricultural Society's
(EAS) inception in 1879, collaboration with the
municipal, provincial, and federal levels of government has been
interwoven into its history.
Undoubtedly, the prominent facet of these partnerships has been the
financial support extended to the organization by the three levels of
government. Contributions to Northlands Park have taken the
form of money donated for prizes to be given away at exhibitions, or
grants for capital renovations and specific building projects.
Over the course of time, different government partners have had more
prominence than others in dealing with the varying circumstances of the
volunteer-driven organization, creating both challenges and rewards.
Tensions have sometimes arisen, as in the case of the organization’s
early relocation due to the City of Edmonton’s visioning, or the strain
on programming and finances due to the dutiful accommodation of military
personnel during the wars.
Northlands Park’s connection with the City of Edmonton may well be
the earliest of all three organization-government partnerships. The year
of the EAS’ birth, the society’s vice president was also Chief Factor of
Fort Edmonton. Incidentally, the Town of Edmonton’s first mayor was also
an EAS president. In terms of land dealings, the first partnership was
forged through the first formal lease agreement signed between the two
parties in 1915. This was an historical moment, the permanent site
secured at the cost of $1 CDN per year.
Partnering between the City of Edmonton and Northlands Park also
takes other financial forms. Due to the organization’s
importance to the city’s culture and economy, project funding has been
provided at various times in its history. Over and above non-financial
benefits reaped by the whole city as a result of Northlands Park events,
contributions to The City of Edmonton are made through business license fees and
property taxes.
With
the two partners jointly arranging logistics for parades, international athletic events, Klondike Days,
and the Canadian Finals Rodeo, further coordination has been achieved. A
formal gesture of representation has been to invite City of
Edmonton counsellors to hold Director positions on the Northlands Park board.
The Province of Alberta has also remained an enthusiastic Northlands
Park partner for over a century. Like the City of Edmonton, the
provincial government continues to demonstrate its support by
guaranteeing loans and has lent its consulting expertise to Northlands
Park’s evolving structure. Providing the non-profit organization with
beneficiary status, monies from the Western Canada Lottery regularly
contribute to Northlands Park.
Northlands Park interfaces with various provincial ministry branches to
cooperate in understanding each other’s interests in developing
North-central Alberta trade and commerce. Ensuring
consistent communication between them are the two board directors
representing the Government of Alberta.
Throughout the long history of Northlands Park, the federal
government has been a strong and generous partner; loan arrangements
have been stable and significant. In appreciation of the organization’s
consistent support during the First and Second World Wars, government funding has been directed towards
Northlands Park operational needs. During the modern era, the Canadian
government has thoughtfully bestowed large grants upon the organization
for the building of modern structures, allowing large-scale projects to
be realized. Like the province and city, it has representation on the Northlands Park board.
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