Posts tagged ‘Western Fair’
Western Fair story in London Free Press needs additional reporting
Originally posted February 26, 2008
Here’s a story from the Tues., Sept. 18, 2007 online edition of the London Free Press that misses the Journalism 101 threshold for basic reporting and gives a pass to so many unanswered questions. The London Free Press fails to scrutinize the Western Fair’s latest self-serving, wacky idea.
Western Fair looking skyward By JOE MATYAS, SUN MEDIA
Western Fair visitors could have a bird’s eye view of next year’s event if plans for a new cable car ride become a reality. Although it’s not a done deal, fair officials acknowledged yesterday they’re negotiating with an American company to install a tram that would sit about 13 metres off the ground at the annual 10-day event in September.
“It’s probably premature to be talking about it but we are now actively involved in negotiations to put in a sky ride,” Gary McRae, Western Fair chief executive officer and general manager, said yesterday.
“If the costs and other details work out to our satisfaction we could have the ride in operation for the 2008 fair.“ Plans call for a cable ride that would run from the Rectory Street entrance to the grandstand area and back, McRae said.The tram would give people “a different look at the fair. It would be beautiful at night with all the coloured lights,” he said.Since the Canadian National Exhibition removed its cable car, there’s only one left in Canada at a fair and that’s in Calgary, McRae said.
Dave Taylor, marketing and fair manager, said “There’s a dozen in the United States and they’re all popular attractions.”“We’re involved in due diligence negotiations right now,” Taylor said. “We’re optimistic things will come together soon enough that we’ll be good to go next year.”
Taylor said cable cars would require some “pretty serious ground installations” and support pillars. Vic Soga, Western Fair’s controller and manager responsible for the midway the past 17 years, said the tram would be the first ride owned by the reconfigured fair since it sold its roller- coaster to an amusement park in Rhode Island.“All of our midway rides are owned and operated by independents who bring them in for the fair,” said Soga.
Perennially, the rollercoaster was the top ride at the fair, he said.“People miss it and they still talk to us about it. The roller-coaster was an icon for the fair and that’s what we’re hoping a sky ride will be.”
Western Fair closed Sunday with the best attendance day in years, said Taylor.The fair recorded 38,650 admissions on Sunday, the best day since 2000 “when we let people in for $1.25,” said Taylor. “We were very pleased to end the fair on such a high note.” Total attendance for the 10-day event was 235,613, higher than the last two years but lower than the 10-year average of 254,365
Here are the questions that we put to reporter, Joe Matyas, which we wished were addressed in the story or in follow-up stories (yet to appear in the London Free Press): Dear Joe Matyas:Re: Your story “Western Fair looking skyward” in the London Free Press, Tuesday, September 18, 2007 seems to beg for a few more details.
1) What will be the cost at completion for this new cable car construction and will any city taxpayer funds be tapped?
2) What is the city’s planning and engineering department position on the feasibility of this idea?
3) What approvals and public hearings are needed before foisting this potential eyesore on the adjoining neighborhood?
4) Such an imposing 13-meter cable car structure would present an obvious privacy issue, noise issue and line-of-sight aesthetic issue and safety issue potentially affecting many immediate area residents and other stakeholders. What do they say about this and how has the Western Fair solicited their input, if at all?
It certainly would be helpful to have your reporting include a few more considered perspectives on this proposed project along with a little wider analysis from additional sets of sources.
Creative Control International Inc. 