Canada nixes Wallenda’s Niagara rope walk
From UPI:
Canadian officials in Niagara Falls have denied daredevil Nik Wallenda’s application to walk across the Niagara Gorge on a tightrope next summer.
Wednesday night, the Niagara Parks Commission voted to deny a permit for the stunt, planned for June, the Toronto Star reported.
The plan was for Wallenda to cross from Goat Island, which separates the U.S. falls and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, 1,800 feet across the gorge, on a 2-inch-wide steel cable to the Canadian side.
Parks Commissioner Janice Thomson told the Star there are safety concerns as well as a fear it would spur unauthorized copycat stunts. She said the event also didn’t fit with long-term planning for the park region.
Related posts:
- Pressure mounts to OK walk across Niagara Falls From the Toronto Star: As an aerialist’s bid to tightrope...
- Niagara Falls high-wire plans could go haywire From the Toronto Star: A daredevil’s plan to be the...
- Wallenda making pitch to Canada for tightrope walk From the Niagara Gazette: Nik Wallenda’s lifelong dream may be...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Pressure mounts to OK walk across Niagara Falls
From the Toronto Star:
As an aerialist’s bid to tightrope walk across Niagara Falls next summer hangs in the balance, the commission ruling on his proposal is facing pressure to let the event proceed.
Nik Wallenda, a seventh-generation member of the famed tightrope-walking Wallenda family, hopes to fulfill his lifelong dream of walking across the falls on a wire.
The proposal has cleared all legal hurdles on the American side, but authority to approve or reject Wallenda’s idea in Canada rests with the Niagara Parks Commission. Chair Janice Thomson has repeatedly said the walk would be a stunt contrary to the commission’s mandate to preserve the falls’ natural beauty.
Wallenda maintains his balancing act is an art form, not a stunt. He made his case before the commission two weeks ago in a 12-minute presentation. The commission is reviewing the proposal and Thomson said she expects a ruling early next week.
Related posts:
- Wallenda won’t give up on falls tightrope dream From the Niagara Falls Review: Both Nik Wallenda and the...
- Some Wallenda posts today I know I’m behind, but I still wanted to post...
- Niagara Falls high-wire plans could go haywire From the Toronto Star: A daredevil’s plan to be the...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
NPC appoints new chair
From Niagara This Week:
After almost five months in the interim position, Janice Thomson has been appointed the chair of the Niagara Parks Commission’s Board of Directors.
While the announcement was made by Tourism and Culture Minister Michael Chan on Wednesday, the appointment was actually effective Nov. 16. Thomson, executive director of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce & Visitor and Convention Bureau, also has experience as a sales and marketing consultant and a former owner and operator of a restaurant in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The Niagara Falls Review also had an article called Janice Thomson named permanent chair of NPC
Related posts:
- Next tour boat operator could be named by year’s end: NPC From the Niagara Falls Review: The winner of the much-publicized...
- Falls Incline Railway slated for overhaul From the Niagara Falls Review: It’s time to stop the...
- Booker chosen as new NPC general manager From the Niagara Falls Review: After more than a year...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
NPC says it followed the rules for carousel deal
From the Niagara Falls Review:
They won’t say how much it cost for the six-week rental of a carousel ride, but the Niagara Parks Commission says the proper bidding process was followed.
The Victorian Candy Lane carousel opened Saturday at Queen Victoria Place and the NPC says more than 700 rides were taken on the weekend — some at $3 each and some (for riders under five years old) were free.
Allegations about a lack of tenders have dogged the NPC in the past, but interim chairwoman Janice Thomson says things have changed.
Asked about the tendering process for the carousel, which will be part of the Winter Festival of Lights until Jan. 8, Thomson said, “We have a procurement policy and everything in the park should be procured through the process. We have management in place that is very strictly adhering to policy.”
Related posts:
- Next tour boat operator could be named by year’s end: NPC From the Niagara Falls Review: The winner of the much-publicized...
- NPC adds carousel to winter attractions From the Niagara Falls Review: The Niagara Parks Commission would...
- Booker chosen as new NPC general manager From the Niagara Falls Review: After more than a year...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Wallenda won’t give up on falls tightrope dream
From the Niagara Falls Review:
Both Nik Wallenda and the Niagara Parks Commission are digging in their heels.
Wallenda wants to be the first person in more than a century to walk across the Niagara gorge on a tightrope. The Commission seems determined not to let it happen.
The performer was in Niagara Falls Wednesday morning to make his pitch to the Commission’s public meeting. He’s already received approval for the tightrope walk from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and he has the support of Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati. But without the blessing of the Parks Commission and its chair Janice Thomson, the tightrope walk – as Wallenda wants it – can’t happen.
With permission already granted from New York State, Wallenda said the option is there to walk across the American falls. But it’s the international crossing over the Horseshoe Falls he really wants.
However, the Niagara Parks Commission banned stunting over the falls more than a century ago, and hasn’t budged since.
“We can listen to Mr. Wallenda and listen to his proposal, but (the Niagara Parks Act) is the guiding document for us,” said Thomson.
Related posts:
- Some Wallenda posts today I know I’m behind, but I still wanted to post...
- Niagara Falls high-wire plans could go haywire From the Toronto Star: A daredevil’s plan to be the...
- More on approval by NY for Wallenda to talk over Falls Yesterday I posted a few links to articles about Nik...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Some Wallenda posts today
I know I’m behind, but I still wanted to post some articles about Nik Wallenda and his attempts to get approval to walk on a wire over Niagara Falls.
The rest of the posts today and at least one tomorrow will be on his recent trip to Niagara Falls Ontario to present to the Niagara Parks Commission.
Wirewalker to make pitch on Falls crossing
From the Niagara Falls Review:
Nik Wallenda is used to wowing people. Now he hopes he’s able to wow the Niagara Parks Commission.
Wallenda will have his chance in two weeks to finally convince Niagara Parks commissioners his proposal to walk on a tightrope across the Horseshoe Falls between Canada and the United States is the work of an experienced and talented performer, not that of a thrill-seeking stuntman.
The Florida wire walker submitted his request online to speak before the commission, a request interim chairwoman Janice Thomson granted for the Nov. 16 meeting, scheduled for 10 a.m. at Legends golf course.
“Separately, (Wallenda) sent me a letter with some of the details of how he would propose to do this walk,” said Thomson.
Related posts:
- Wallenda makes pitch to Canadians From the Tonawanda News: After his first meeting with officials...
- Niagara Falls high-wire plans could go haywire From the Toronto Star: A daredevil’s plan to be the...
- More on approval by NY for Wallenda to talk over Falls Yesterday I posted a few links to articles about Nik...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Falls Incline Railway slated for overhaul
From the Niagara Falls Review:
It’s time to stop the decline of the incline.
The Niagara Parks Commission has plans to replace its aging Falls Incline Railway that makes it easier for visitors to go from the Fallsview tourism district down into the park.
The upgrade is the next phase of its Table Rock Redevelopment Project and is intended to enhance the overall guest experience of Niagara.
The announcement was made Friday near the Table Rock Clock Tower close to the incline by Janice Thomson, interim chair of the NPC, and Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor, parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Tourism and Culture.
The projected opening date is March 2013.
Related posts:
- Niagara Falls high-wire plans could go haywire From the Toronto Star: A daredevil’s plan to be the...
- 4 Niagara Parks Commission members turfed From the Niagara Falls Review: The Niagara Parks Commission, which...
- Booker chosen as new NPC general manager From the Niagara Falls Review: After more than a year...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
NPC issues likely to be under the radar during provincial election
From the Niagara Falls Review:
One explosive issue — the Niagara Health System — continues to publicly manifest itself as candidates get ready to hit the provincial election campaign trail.
But decisions surrounding the Niagara Parks Commission’s board of directors and Maid of the Mist boat tour operation will likely continue to unfold out of the public eye.
Six provincially-appointed bureaucrats who sit on the parks commission board will not be replaced until at least November — a month after the provincial election.
Their term was originally set to end in May, but earlier this year, with outstanding business matters yet to be resolved, the board decided it wasn’t practical to change over the appointees.
Their term was extended until November.
And with the election campaign set to begin next week, a freeze on appointments to government boards and agencies is in affect, said Janice Thomson, interim chairwoman at the parks commission.
“The Public Appointments Secretariat has stopped making appointments to any government body until after the election,” said Thomson.
“So nothing will change on that front until after the election.”
Related posts:
- 4 Niagara Parks Commission members turfed From the Niagara Falls Review: The Niagara Parks Commission, which...
- Chan seeks clean sweep of board From the Niagara Falls Review: The Ontario government doesn’t want...
- Gale wants unbiased NPC investigation From Niagara This Week: The list of people to turn...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Niagara Falls high-wire plans could go haywire
From the Toronto Star:
A daredevil’s plan to be the first person in a century to walk a tightrope across Niagara Falls may take a tumble even though it’s just gotten off the ground.
Nik Wallenda, a seventh-generation member of the Flying Wallendas, a family of tightrope performers, is hoping to fulfill a lifelong dream of walking over the gaping maw of the falls on a high wire.
He’s got the support of the mayor of Niagara Falls, Ont., who’s thrilled at the chance to boost sagging tourism numbers with the high-profile act. A bill to allow Wallenda to tightrope across the falls passed through New York’s Senate without a hitch and awaits Governor Andrew Cuomo’s signature. And city council in Niagara Falls, N.Y., voted last week to support Wallenda’s bid.
The final holdout, however, is on the Canadian side at the Niagara Parks Commission. Its fears the act is a one-time stunt that would return Niagara Falls to its days of flash and showmanship, rather than highlight the falls’ natural beauty. The commission was founded in 1885 specifically to put an end to the falls’ carnival atmosphere.
Commission interim chair Janice Thomson said it hasn’t received Wallenda’s request yet, but she can’t imagine the commission approving the act.
Related posts:
- Should experienced high-wire walker be allowed to cross the falls? From the Niagara Falls Review: Since he was a boy...
- A few more articles about Nik Wallenda’s proposed wire walk over Niagara Falls Here are a few more articles that I’ve found that...
- Wire walk across Niagara Gorge gets political support in the U.S. From 610 CKTB: A tightrope walker who wants to walk...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Booker chosen as new NPC general manager
From the Niagara Falls Review:
After more than a year as chairwoman of the Niagara Parks Commission, Fay Booker has a new job.
The Burlington accountant and management consultant has been selected by the commission’s search committee as Niagara Parks’ new general manager.
The announcement was made official Thursday.
She fills the vacancy left by long-serving GM John Kernahan, who retired at the end of last year. A search was launched in April to find his replacement.
Janice Thomson, former vice-chairwoman of the Niagara Parks board, has assumed the role of interim chairwoman.
Booker said she is honoured and proud to be the new GM of a “fabulous” and “tremendous” organization.
“I want to have a positive impact. I want to be more involved from an operational level,” she told The Niagara Falls Review Thursday afternoon.
Related posts:
- 4 Niagara Parks Commission members turfed From the Niagara Falls Review: The Niagara Parks Commission, which...
- Second chance for rink From the Niagara Falls Review: The Rink at the Brink...
- New manager by June, predicts NPC chairwoman From the Niagara Falls Review: It could be summer before...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.