A local quilters group is protesting rising arena rental fees in Grey Highlands.
At its meeting on Dec. 4, Grey Highlands council received a delegation from resident Lesley Priddle about recent cost increases to rent local facilities. Priddle spoke to council on behalf of the Grey County Charmers Quilt Club.
Priddle said in May 2024, the quilt club rented the Osprey Community Centre for a quilt show and the cost for three days was $751.99. She said they were shocked to find out the same rental fee for the 2025 show had risen to $5,085.
“I am sad that our community donated so much to build the Osprey Community Complex and now residents of the community cannot afford to rent it for the astronomical prices being charged by the municipality,” Priddle said during the presentation.
Priddle said the quilt club is requesting to be charged the same rate as last year, with an additional $100 for the rental of the arena floor, as the club plans to expand the size of the quilt show in 2025.
“This is not a for-profit group. They just want to cover their costs,” she said.
In April 2024, council approved a new fees and charges bylaw that saw rates to rent various community facilities rise in an effort to keep up with inflation and to raise more revenue for the various facilities around the municipality.
In recent weeks, council have heard concerns from the community and the new rental rates. The topic was raised at a recent town hall meeting in Maxwell and council discussed the issue at a committee of the whole meeting on Nov. 27.
In response to Priddle, Coun. Paul Allen noted that the two rental costs being quoted were not like-for-like. Allen said, in 2025, the quilt club was seeking to rent the Osprey Community Centre including the arena floor, for three full days. He said, if the group was renting for the same time as it had for the 2024 show, the fee would have been $1,812.
Allen said it wasn’t his intent to start a “debate” on the issue, but wanted to be sure the right information was being discussed.
In response, Priddle said she felt Allen was “splitting hairs” on the matter.
“I think $1,800 is far too much for something like this,” she said.
Council did not take any action on Priddle’s delegation. At the Nov. 27 committee of the whole meeting, council held off making any changes to the fees and will wait for a staff review of the news fees scheduled to come to council in the spring.