 | The Lift Off Committee capped the weekend festivities off moments before the final act took to the stage on Saturday evening, with a special presentation. Acting Mayor Denis Thibault, Councillor Glen Grant, Councillor David Murphy and Maureen Adams, General Manager of Financial Services accepted a cheque for $30,000 from Judi Auger, Chair of the Lift-Off committee. | |
Cornwall - Jul. 17, 2011 - Once again this year Lift-Off has been an amazing experience for the City of Cornwall. The community has enjoyed beautiful hot air balloons over our city and had great family fun with the midway and the Family Zone. The evening music concerts in Lamoureux Park have been nothing short of amazing - what a wonderful way to spend a summer weekend!
The Lift Off Committee capped the weekend festivities off moments before the final act took to the stage on Saturday evening, with a special presentation. Acting Mayor Denis Thibault, Councillor Glen Grant, Councillor David Murphy and Maureen Adams, General Manager of Financial Services accepted a cheque for $30,000 from Judi Auger, Chair of the Lift-Off committee. "We are extremely pleased to present this cheque to the City of Cornwall this evening in full payment of the loan Council granted to us this past spring," commented Judi Auger. "This loan enabled us to secure the fantastic bands that have entertained us this year, and allowed the committee to once again organize and stage a top notch event. We thank Cornwall City Council for the support they have given to us. Lift-Off is proud to be the signature festival for the City of Cornwall".
After a difficult year in 2010 when the weather threw everything from extreme heat and humidity (the humidex was in the range of 43 degrees) the first day, to torrential rains the second day, and finally only one evening of nice weather on the third day, Lift-Off found itself in a tight cash flow position. The bands of the calibre we have seen over the past few years, require a heavy cash payment along with the performance contract. This made it next to impossible for the Lift-Off committee to secure the high calibre talent that festival goers have come to expect. The loan from the City of Cornwall was used to secure these contracts, providing the committee with the ability to move forward in staging the kind of signature festival that Lift-Off has become.
"The weatherman has certainly been on our side this weekend with sunshine and clear skies, the winds co-operated as each of our six flight windows lifted off as scheduled, and we have not seen a drop of rain. It has been a fantastic time from start to finish," commented Jason Jesmer, Sponsorship Vice Chair for the festival. "We would like to thank all of our sponsors for their support, and all of the fans who have come out this weekend. This is what Lift-Off is all about - celebrating family".
Cornwall Lift-Off was founded in 1994 and has since hosted back-to-back Canadian National Hot Air Balloon Championships in 1996 and 1997. The success of the festival has grown considerably from its modest beginnings in 1994. The 2011 festival welcomes 25 hot air balloon teams, the Homenuik Carnival, fireworks, a new Family Zone, and great musical entertainment. |
