City of Vernon vows to meet with non-profits after backlash over rent at civic facilities [Video]

More non-profit groups are denouncing what they call significant rental fee increases imposed by the City of Vernon at civic properties used for community events.

“It’s hard,” said Ingrid Baron, chair of the Creative Chaos event.  “It’s hard if we all go, ‘Who is going to rent these facilities?’”

Creative Chaos, Canada’s largest craft fair, brings in thousands of people every year.

The event is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and for the first time in its history, aside from the COVID-19 pandemic, will be operating at a loss.

“We tightened up on a few things,” Baron said. “We were going to have a bit of a bigger celebration thing,  so we’ve tightened up there. We tightened up on our performing arts, dipped into some savings.”

The cost-cutting measures, Baron said, were necessary as the non-profit society has to pay a lot more this year to rent the venue …