Wallaceburg’s Canada Day celebrations are up in the air after organizers were told they didn’t qualify for a $5,000 grant from Chatham-Kent’s Community Partnership Fund. 
Councillor Aaron Hall says although the application deadline passed nearly two months ago, he’s hoping a local non-profit can step in help.
“There’s been a bit of a transition with the organizers and it’s nice to see that the Moose Lodge has come on board to help the organizing committee as a not-for-profit organization to back it,” Hall says. “We’ll see what happens in a couple of weeks, but I’m hoping to get council’s support.”
Hall says a recent decision by council to give the Merlin Legion $2500 may help his cause – the Legion had technical issues filling out their application which resulted in it not being received by the municipality before the deadline.
Fireworks for events like Canada Day can cost around $10,000 or more.
The Wallaceburg celebrations, being organized by Summit Shows, has faced a number of hurdles lately.
Earlier this month, the group posted on the Facebook event page that plans to hold the festivities at Perry Park had been scratched, and it would return to Kinsmen Park.
An online fundraiser was launched two months ago, and so far has raised less than $200, with a goal of $10,000.
Other portions of the Canada Day events remain on track, with plans for face painting, live music, pony rides, and bouncy castles.