PNE could be ‘lost forever’ without $8M from the province, Vancouver’s mayor warns

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Vancouver’s mayor warns the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE), as we know it, could cease to exist if it doesn’t get at least $8 million in emergency grants from the province because it is facing an “uncertain future.”

Kennedy Stewart feels public backlash over controversial plans to re-open Playland should not be a factor, now that operators have agreed to keep the amusement park closed until after the long weekend.

“Think about what will next year and following years look like? I think in the end, everybody loves the PNE. It was my wife’s first job, so many people’s first jobs. We go every year. Now, we’re really asking for the one-time lifeline to keep this in place for future generations,” he said.

#PNE President and CEO Shelly Frost says recovery from $15M debt would take 15 years and thousands of jobs are now at risk. @cupe1004 President Andrew Ledger says “we need a lifeline.”#bcpoli #vanpoli @NEWS1130

— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) April 30, 2021

Despite forecasted losses of $15 million this year, Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport Minister Melanie Mark isn’t making any promises, but says the province will work with stakeholders to ensure the 111-year-old PNE outlasts the pandemic.

PNE management says the non-profit organization would take more than 15 years to eliminate that level of debt, according to a statement from the mayors’ office.

This isn’t the first time Stewart has asked for financial help from other levels of government for pandemic-related relief.

“We started this conversation last year,” he said. “We did get some very encouraging signs from both levels, but haven’t had anything land in the bank here.”

Plans to re-open Playland this year were initially scheduled for May 1. It has been postponed to after the May long weekend, at the behest of the provincial health officer, as COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations remain high, and restrictions on travel and gathering remain in place until at least May 25.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport @melaniejmark not making any promises to provide urgent funding to #PNE, but she's not ruling anything out.

She's issued statement confirming work continues to get more support from #Ottawa.#bcpoli #vanpoli @PNE_Playland @NEWS1130

— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) April 30, 2021

Shelly Frost, president and CEO of the PNE says they are not eligible for various federal programs because they’ve been too successful in the past.

“[We weren’t eligible for] a summer jobs program because we have too many full-time employees … or another subsidy program because our payroll was too high in the year prior. They’re very focused, right now, on organizations who traditionally already receive annual funding. Because we’ve been pretty self-sufficient over the last decades and we don’t receive money from the feds, we’ve been discluded from those, as well,” she said.

Ashley Jang is an 18-year-old student at Killarney Secondary School in Vancouver, who says she’s one of thousands of workers now at risk of losing her first job.

“I love working at the PNE. I’ve learned so much and made so many friends. Although in guest services, sometimes you have to deal with guest issues, I also can tell you first-hand, so many people love the PNE,” she said.

The Fair at the PNE was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will likely remain closed again this year.

“We’ve survived two world wars and the Great Depression, all while providing millions of people from across British Columbia and around the world cherished memories, as well as generating $200 million dollars in economic impact annually – but the challenges of COVID-19 have pushed us to the brink,” said Acting PNE President and CEO Stacy Shields.

Related articles:

• Future of PNE in jeopardy without help from feds: union

• Vancouver’s PNE determined to persist amid pandemic

• PNE expects loss of $52-million due to COVID-19 cancellations

• Vancouver asks province for funding to support struggling PNE

• Playland postpones re-opening following backlash

The PNE has been owned by the City of Vancouver since 2004. Because of this, it was ineligible for COVID-19-related supports for businesses, such as rental and wage subsidies.

Vancouver Mayor @kennedystewart warns the Pacific National Exhibition @PNE_Playland, as we know it, could cease to exist if it doesn’t get at least $8 million in emergency grants from the province because it is facing an “uncertain future.”https://t.co/6efTN0JWyd pic.twitter.com/4XEZT8qzcT

— CityNews 1130 Vancouver (Inactive) (@news1130) May 1, 2021