Air show may take off from province
Posted Jun 25, 2010 01:21:46 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
After over 20 years in this province, the Nova Scotia International Air Show may head to another province next year. Typically, the event has been held out of Canadian Forces Base Shearwater, but the Tourism Department says that location is no longer suitable.
Tourism Minister Percy Paris says it’s concerning, but it’s not time for the province to step in.
“It could be a good thing, and you know you laugh about that,” he says. “But it could be a good thing, if it’s not making any money and if they weren’t getting anybody to attend the events.”
Air show executive director Colin Stevenson says Shearwater doesn’t have a big enough runway because it was converted to a helicopter base. He says the Air Show simply presents too many logistical issues.
He says he doesn’t quite understand what the Tourism Department’s stance is, saying he sat down with the minister in January.
“A few weeks ago, we found out that other than some marketing support that we always participate in, like the Doers and Dreamers Guide, we were turned down for funding in direct support for the show,” he said. “That was disappointing considering the way the province is celebrating heritage this year.”
Stevenson says funding from the province could help keep the air show in Nova Scotia.
