OPINION
Editor’s Note: The letter below contains the text of a presentation to be given to Killaloe Hagarty Richards Township Council on Tuesday May 20 2025 by Christopher Huggett.
RE: controversy and opposition of Rave Festivals and other exploitative proposals detrimental to the social, psychological, economic and environmental well-being of our community Photo: bbolender on pixabay
“A request to adopt a Notion to judiciously scrutinize unsolicited proposals aimed at exploiting KHR by undesirable outside commercial interests.”
Whereas, on May 6, 2025 our municipality was approached by a representative from the commercial electronic music festival “Knwhere” and …
Whereas stiff public opposition convinced the promoters and their host to search elsewhere for a venue for their annual Rave Event, and …
Whereas outside solicitation by large metropolitan commercial enterprises is on an increase to exploit smaller municipalities to engage in questionable, and unpopular activities which are prohibited, restricted or deemed illegal in their own urban jurisdictions …
Be it known that; the township of KHR requires the adoption of a bylaw/regulation that would require: a public vetting process beyond the current adoption and issuance of a Special Use Permit.
Rationale: As population pressures cause urban centres to densify and expand beyond their carrying capacity, regional governments, private enterprises and businesses seek smaller isolated communities to exploit to engage in activities or industries considered intolerable or socially unacceptable in buildup landscapes.
These can range from regional garbage dumps, sludge farms, radioactive toxic waste sites, large commercial abattoirs, factories that produce unacceptable amounts of toxic waste, odour and noise (such as large commercial grow-ops, mushroom farms ) cell-towers, wind-farms etc.
Smaller cash-strapped communities are solicited first as the promoters exploit the economic vulnerability of the rural workforce promising employment opportunities, economic stimulation and the attraction of outside visitors.
Invariably, none of these promises reach sustainable or meaningful fruition because the training, skill-set, work ethic and companies preference for hiring their own employees, friends/relatives leaves financial benefits to a scant minority. These would include for example, the property owner where the activity is intended or a local heavy equipment operator for site preparation.
These are not local business initiatives but outside commercial entities who operate with no genuine interest or knowledge of our rural culture, values and well-being, beyond making an extensive profit. Many originate from outside of Canada.
Even after expenses, the Knwhere Music Festival would have walked away annually with a few millions dollars, while depreciating the quality of life for KHR local residents.
Christopher Huggett
Killaloe, Ontario