Council grills charity over planned fundraiser
Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Members of council asked a lot of unexpected questions after hearing a deputation from North House on Monday morning in which the charity asked the township for support for an upcoming fundraiser.
Courtney Munn, event coordinator with North House, told council the organization wants to hold a food truck festival in Elgin Park on July 12, 2025. She said the charity hopes to have as many as 30 food trucks at the event, offering a range of different foods, with local market vendors and musicians also on hand. Munn said North House also would like to have a beer and cider garden in a fenced-in area. There would also be a kids' zone and a first aid station. She said the Town Trolley would also offer a shuttle service to bring people to and from the park.
Munn told council that North House was asking for the rental fee for Elgin Park to be waived, business licence fees for the food trucks be waived and permission to serve alcohol. She explained that North House would raise funds by charging the food truck operators a fee to attend. She also said North House would like exclusive use of the park for the day so they can control traffic and ensure safety for participants.
In her presentation, Munn said North House served 258 households in North Durham (which includes Uxbridge, Brock and Scugog) in 2023, which represented 414 individuals. She said Uxbridge accounted for 38 per cent of North House's clients (the most among the three northern townships) and that translated into 98 households, or 164 individuals.
Munn said the food truck festival would offer locals residents an opportunity to spend a few hours with family enjoying food, drink and music.
On the question of exclusive use, Munn was told council is reluctant to exclude the public from the park and allows exclusive use in only a few instances. On the food truck fees, she was told all local food truck operators have to pay for a yearly business licence under a township by-law, and non-local operators would also be charged a fee to attend. Councillor Willie Popp clarified that local vendors wouldn’t face any additional township charge to attend because they already have a year-long licence.
In questioning, regional councillor Bruce Garrod asked Munn what the funds raised would be used for, and pressed to discover whether the funds were for “targeted use, or would just go into the general coffers.” Mayor Dave Barton noted that North House receives funding from the region (Garrod said it was between $750,000 and $1 million a year) and offered that Uxbridge already supports North House because a large portion of the township's taxes go to the region.
"I'm wondering if we're going to be funding you more than any other events in the municipality." Barton said. "We don't know how you're going to make money or how much. I'm struggling with what the purpose of the event is." He added that the money North House receives from the region is “more than the arena, the pool and our camps combined.”
Munn confirmed in a later interview that North House has received $750,000 a year for the past three years. Munn also pointed out in that interview that North House booked the July date back in 2022 and that no one on township staff notified her that there was a special lower rental rate for charities. She learned about the lower rental rate during her deputation.
Council's questioning revolved mainly around North House's finances and Popp suggested that, should the event go ahead, North House should return to council with a "debrief."
Council voted in favour of approving the event "in principle" and requiring North House to work with township staff to iron out details.