A mobile stage to roll to different events across Chatham-Kent has been unveiled.
The municipality showed it off on Tuesday.
The mobile stage is equipped with next generation, high performance JBL loudspeakers to ensure announcements and background music can be heard loud and clear and six bright outdoor-rated LED lights for easier viewing.
The idea came from Chief Administrative Officer Michael Duben, who said the need quickly became apparent while attending his first event in Wallaceburg after he was hired in 2022.
"It was No Child Left Behind. It was a very impactful presentation that a young Indigenous woman was making. And she was standing on the grass, had a microphone and a tiny little speaker. I could barely see her, I could barely hear her, and the microphone kept going on and off. And I thought it's such a great event and yet we don't have anything to support that," said Duben.
Duben said it was too pricy to have a stage in each town and this will enhance every event.
"We need one of these. Chatham-Kent is so big geographically. We're obviously not going to have a municipally-owned stage in every one of our communities, it's just too much money and it isn't a good use," he said.
The entire $260,000 price tag is being funded with a $100,000 sponsorship from Mainstreet Credit Union and the rest coming from the Hydro-One Community Benefit Fund.
The portable stage is a trailer with side walls that can be assembled in an hour. It's also equipped with large banners below and on either sides of the stage, offering event organizers advertising or sponsorship opportunities to help with their funding.
The stage can be rented and is expected to grace over two hundred special events across Chatham-Kent every year.
"We are thrilled to partner with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent to introduce the Mainstreet Credit Union Mobile Stage," said President and CEO of Mainstreet Credit Union Chris Inniss. "This stage represents our commitment to supporting our community and providing a platform for memorable events that bring people together."
The Special Olympics in Chatham-Kent to be held in June has already booked it. Call 311 to book it or email CK Special Events at ckspecialevents@chatham-kent.ca.
