(Publisher’s Note: In the interest of public discussion and information we are posting this letter verbatim)
Many of you will have heard the news already. On March 19 the city Parks Department confirmed to Music Africa that the city would not issue us a permit to hold AFROFEST in Queen’s Park.
The department gave as its reasons “permit violations… for 2010 and previous years.”
There were legitimate concerns raised by the city, but none of them presented security, health or safety issues to Afrofest patrons. We do not feel they provide sufficient justification for denying us the permit.
In January, when first told of the city’s decision, Music Africa appealed the decision and pointed out that several of the so-called “violations” had not taken place as described. However Music Africa acknowledged some shortcomings in its planning, and committed to working with the city to resolve them to everyone’s satisfaction in future.
[The complete letter + email correspondence can be found on our website: www.musicafrica.org]
Afrofest was the first concert festival, almost 20 years ago, to take advantage of the fantastic location and ambiance offered by Queen’s Park. Since that first year Afrofest has become the largest, best attended and we think most enjoyable annual concert on those beautiful grounds.
IT’S NOT TOO LATE, the Parks Department’s decision can be reversed. A “SaveAfrofest” group has been set up on Facebook. Sign our online petition, and ask your Afrofest-loving friends to sign it too. The Music Africa website is at www.musicafrica.org
In addition, we urge those Afrofest fans who agree that Queen’s Park is the best place in the city for the festival to contact city officials and make their wishes known.
Mayor Rob Ford: Mayor_Ford@toronto.ca
Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, Ward 27 [incl. Queen’s Park]: councillor_wongtam@toronto.ca
Your city councillors (Please locate them here): http://app.toronto.ca/wards/jsp/wards.jsp
Parks Department:
Sandy Straw, manager: sstraw@toronto.ca
Brenda Patterson, General Manager: bpatter2@toronto.ca
Richard Ubbens, Director of Parks: rubbens@toronto.ca
Mark Hawkins, General Supervisor: mhawkins@toronto.ca
Thank you
the Board of Directors
Music Africa