A recommendation during the latest city council meeting has led to the city repealing the cost of hosting a table at city-wide registrations.

The move by many organizations to online registrations and a change in organizations following the pandemic were two main factors that saw lowering attendance according to a letter from Leisure Services Manager Erin Wilson to the Estevan city council,

Wilson says they can either keep the $95 charge, which raises an average of $2,280 annually or, as she recommends, get rid of it to open up the registration to more organizations that may not have the budget.

Councillor Travis Frank supported the idea while hoping that the event could remind organizations that the community calendar on the city's website is an available resource.

The sentiment was echoed by Councillor Rebecca Foord, who gave the example of local baseball and softball groups, who are required by provincial rules to sign up online.

While also supporting repealing the cost Councillor Kirsten Walliser pointed out that many of the groups, including arts, museum, and library programs, received city funding, and as such portions of the funding were just coming back to the city.

Councillor Lindsay Clark hoped that by repealing the cost more small and new groups would be able to attend the registration and appear before the community.

Councillor Shelley Veroba said that in past years city-wide registration was a big event with plenty of attendees both volunteering and signing up, with her hoping that a repeal of fees would help bring more people in

Councillor Frank made the motion to adopt the recommendation from leisure services which was then seconded by Councillor Foord before being passed unanimously.

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