“There will still be a Goose Festival, it will just be different.”
The Kindersley Goose Festival has been an annual tradition since 1972, a fun-filled weekend with activities for the entire family. The 48th festival is upcoming in 2020, only next year the festival will be taking on a different shape, with the Kindersley Chamber no longer being the main organizer.
The Kindersley Chamber will still be sponsoring and promoting the Festival, however the Chamber is looking for each area of business within Kindersley to step up to the plate and organize events rather than the Chamber heading the entire festival.
“There will still be a Goose Festival, it will just be different,” noted Miller. “People attending the Festival will likely not notice a huge difference.”
With this new model the festival has opportunity to include all of Kindersley businesses. This way the festival can support local businesses in each area of business within the town. Rick Miller the president of the Kindersley of Commerce explained, “When the Chamber first started the only area of business within Kindersley was downtown.”
However, the old model of the festival needed to be updated to reflect the changes in the Kindersley business landscape. Now, with the new model each area of business within Kindersley can plan their own events and truly bring the festival throughout Kindersley.
“This is 100% revitalization of the Goose Festival,” stated Miller. Now the festival can take on a new shape and have no risk of becoming ‘same old same old’.
“One door closes and one door opens and we are hoping to make the Festival better than ever,” explained Miller. “As long as we have good weather”, he joked.
According to Miller, the Chamber is not dropping or giving up on the Goose Festival, instead the Chamber will take a different direction. The Chamber will still support the festival and organize the annual parade however the Chamber is asking businesses to take a more active role in planning.
The Kindersley Chamber is shifting its focus to supporting and growing the business sector of Kindersley. Currently the Chamber is working with retiring businesses across the town with succession planning or training of new owners to help keep Kindersley a strong business hub. “The Chamber is working 365 days to help our local businesses, and we only have so many resources,” explained Miller. The Chamber is choosing to put their energy into promoting the business sector all year rather then a huge focus on only one weekend.
The Kindersley Trade Show will also be undergoing changes next year.
“Last year 97% of booths were filled from business from outside Kindersley,” explained Miller. “A chamber should not be promoting anybody but your own businesses in the area.”
Instead the Chamber is exploring the option of organizing a trade show featuring the local businesses of Kindersley itself. If the Chamber is successful in attracting local businesses the Chamber will continue to spearhead the trade show.
The Kindersley Chamber is also helping promote local shopping within the community, “Taking money out of the community weakens a community,” says Miller.
Which is why the Kindersley Chamber has developed an online presence with ShopKindersley.ca where goods and services of Kindersley are brought online.
The Chamber is currently developing gift cards which are only redeemable at Kindersley businesses as a gift option for Christmas shoppers. “Gift cards are currently the number one gift option” explained Miller.
The Kindersley Chamber is excited about the new model of the Goose Festival and hopes that next year the festival will be the best yet.
Feature Image Source: 2018 Goose Festival, Mallorie Rast/Kindersley Social
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