Renowned artist Trisha Romance to be celebrated with town event

Niagara-on-the-Lake is about to paint a celebration in the community to honour a world-renowned artist who has lived and worked locally for decades.  

A Day of Romance and Romance Under the Stars will honour Trisha Romance, who opened her first gallery in NOTL 40 years ago.  

Alana Hurov, of Hurov Creative Agency, spoke to council Tuesday about the event, planned to take place Sept. 15 at Simcoe Park and along Queen Street, featuring an art installation at Niagara Apothecary, a national historic site in the Old Town.  

It will also include a children’s art show and street festival.  

A symbolic key to the town will also be handed to the award-winning artist, whose pieces often capture life in NOTL. This would be the first time the town ever honoured an individual – something municipalities everywhere do on rare and special occasions.  

“She’s our national treasure to celebrate,” said Hurov, who is one of nine people on a committee that has already been formed to organize the event.  

Two staff members, Christie New and Lauren Kruitbosch, are also on the committee. 

“We’re working closely with the town to figure out what this will look like,” said Hurov.  

Councillors who spoke during the discussion agreed it is appropriate to honour Romance, but some had questions related to the process behind the key being dedicated to her, and also about the committee.  

Coun. Erwin Wiens, who also sits on the committee, made a motion asking for council’s support.  

He said he was approached by Ron Clavier, another well-known local artist, about drawing up an event, which led to Wiens getting an OK from Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa’s office to get things started.  

The committee consists of a “broad spectrum of people who can get things done,” said Wiens, adding the event will have a focus on getting youth involved in the arts.  

Coun. Gary Burroughs said he has known Romance’s family for many years and that he supports the idea, but asked that two votes be taken on recommendations, one about endorsing the event and the second one being about the key dedication.  

“Yes, we should have a special event, but we don’t know enough about it yet,” said Burroughs.  

Interim chief administrative officer Bruce Zvaniga agreed with the key issue being considered separately.  

“I think you do need a policy as a town,” he said, adding that it would be wise to endorse the event but also ask staff to come back with a report with more details about the event and its impacts on the town.  

He also said staff’s involvement with the committee has been “relatively minimal” to date.  

Coun. Sandra O’Connor said she would have liked to see more information about the scope of the event, including whether the town is being asked for funding, and more details about the art installation at the Apothecary building. 

O’Connor is also concerned that the town doesn’t have a policy related to key dedications, and also that staff were already placed on a committee.  

“We can’t even find staff to have an environmental committee meeting,” she said.  

Coun. Nick Ruller agreed with O’Connor, that it’s important to honour Romance, but said he has issues with how council learned about the event.  

“I’m frustrated by the path we’ve gone down here,” he said.  

Zalepa joined the conversation and said the two staffers on the committee are from his office.  

“I saw this as something important to do, and that’s where that direction came from,” said Zalepa.  

Wiens said it was never the committee’s intention to take away from staff resources and explained that the two staffers involved aren’t being tasked with writing reports and won’t be burdened by their involvement.  

“I don’t want to take up staff time, but they need to be in the loop,” said Wiens.  

Council voted in favour of both motions – to endorse the event and to move forward with a key dedication.