Despite a positive reaction, city council is waiting to decide whether to support a music festival for Indigenous students.
Mayor Bill Mauro says council should do anything they can to help the Wake the Giant initiative to make Indigenous people feel welcome.
“I think we all can take some capacity or ownership in trying to enhance the work that you’re doing,” he notes.
Council directed city staff to meet with Wake the Giant organizers and report to council on how they could give $10,000 worth of services.
That would include stage lighting and other equipment for the festival this September as part of a student orientation.
Organizers are asking council to provide the same help for the next two years, for a total of $30,000 worth of donated services.
Mauro says that amount should be no problem.
“This is really something that I can support fully, 100 per cent. You’re here asking for almost nothing, and yet I think the potential to be impactful on how the city changes can be largely disproportionate to your ask here tonight.”
City staff will come back to council with that information by June 3rd.
