The 2020 Foster's Peace Country Classic Agri-Show was cancelled after one day because of the pandemic. Evergreen Park officials are planning for it to return in 2021. Photo by Curtis Galbraith..

By Curtis Galbraith

Community

Some Evergreen Park staff re-hired, event bookings happening again

Sep 18, 2020 | 12:29 PM

Evergreen Park has been able to hire back 20 of the 55 employees it was forced to lay off in March when the pandemic hit.

The County of Grande Prairie has agreed to cover the payroll for the rest of this year. Council agreed to provide just under $400,000 at its most recent meeting after it agreed to provide just under $575,000 earlier this year for the same purpose. The Park is also getting $300,000 from the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy.

Park General Manager Dan Gorman says hiring people back means the restaurant and casino have re-opened and horse racing could go ahead this summer.

“We certainly are seeing that our business is slowly building back up again. We’re just not sure if we’re ever going to be able to have them all back, but we’re certainly going to do what we can to get many as we can.”

The pandemic has cost Evergreen Park $3.2 million in expected revenue. Gorman says to make up some of that shortfall, the facility is offering space for on-site training, within AHS protocols. Also, the Grande Sunset Theatre has been operating there all summer and 16 weddings have been booked within the next year.

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

Trade shows and expos are back on and that means such events will be coming to Evergreen Park.

Gorman says this means the Alberta Agricultural Societies conference may come here in February.

He adds modified versions of some events will be held not only next year but this year as well.

That will include the Festival of Trees.

“What they’re doing, on their gala night, instead of us having one for 750 (people), it will be 50 here then nine other pods of 50 throughout the community. It will be live-streamed, online auctions, things like that.”

Gorman says the Growing the North Conference is looking at something similar.

He is also planning on the Foster’s Peace Country Classic Agri-Show being back. He and other park officials are looking at things like wider booths and extended hours.

Gorman is optimistic that the Grande Sunset Theatre will continue to operate at the Park after the pandemic ends.

Movies, concerts, and fund-raisers have already been held this summer.

“They’re also coming up with a whole bunch of ways that we never even thought of that really bode well for the future of the Grande Sunset Theatre group. We’re very proud to be partnered with them.”

Gorman says Evergreen Park has made an agreement with the Grande Sunset Theatre organization that there will be no charge for the rest of 2020 for any non-profit group that wants to hold a fundraiser at the theatre.

One was recently held for the United Way. Nitehawk will be holding its annual comedy night fund-raiser as a drive-in style event at the theatre on September 26.