This southwestern Ontario town lost $140K on a Lego exhibit, but says it helped build its economy
The southwestern Ontario town of LaSalle is tapping into reserves after losing $139,800 on a Lego sculpture exhibit — a project council forged ahead with despite acknowledgment it could end in a loss.
“When you get a project that comes to you with a projected deficit, I don’t think that we as councillors should be taking a mission like that on,” longtime Coun. Terry Burns said in an interview.
LaSalle, with a population of about 33,000, is just outside Windsor.
Sean Kenney’s Animal Super Powers ran from late January to early April at the municipality’s event centre. It took the artist nearly five years to assemble the large animal sculptures, using about 1.3 million Lego pieces.
The event was set to cost the municipality about $500,000. About $260,000 went toward renting and shipping the exhibit. A grant offset about $37,000 in costs.
Staff estimated in an April 2023 report that depending on ticket sales and the result of grant applications and sponsorships, the event could have left the town with a bill of up to $370,000 in the worst-case scenario. In a best-case scenario, it would break even.
But for LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche, the price tag doesn’t tell the whole story.
Really, we have to look at what the economic impact was on our community and the benefits that came out of us hosting this very unique event for our region.– Crystal Meloche, mayor of LaSalle, Ont.
The exhibit attracted almost 20,000 visitors, created jobs, and promoted the town and the waterfront area, Meloche said. A report completed by the province’s Tourism Department pegged the economic impact at almost $480,000, she said.
“Really, we have to look at what the economic impact was on our community and the benefits that came out of us hosting this very unique event for our region.”
Meloche said the project was approved with the knowledge a portion would have to come to from reserve funds. The town was hoping a second grant would come through, but it didn’t.
“We’ve never done an event like this before in the town of LaSalle, but we realize we need to invest in the community. We need to invest in the waterfront and show people, you know, come to LaSalle.”
Council voted earlier this month to address the loss primarily from its stabilization reserve, with some funds from its festival reserve funds.
Burns said he would have preferred to see the cost billed to the capital budget for the town’s event centre, where the exhibit was held.
It took about five years of full-time work and about 1.3 million Lego bricks. Lego Animal Super Powers will soon be on display at LaSalle Landing. Artist Sean Kenney spoke with the CBC’s Jacob Barker about his passion for Lego art.
But ultimately, he said, he doesn’t think taxpayers should be on the hook for a project like this.
There are people in our town that are having a hard time to pay their taxes … how do I ask Mrs. Jones, who’s on a single pension and she’s struggling to stay in her home, how do I ask her to subsidize this loss?– Coun. Terry Burns
“There are people in our town that are having a hard time to pay their taxes … how do I ask Mrs. Jones, who’s on a single pension and she’s struggling to stay in her home, how do I ask her to subsidize this loss? I can’t,” said Burns.
Meloche said the reserve funds are for these kinds of purposes, so the loss won’t be reflected in next year’s taxes.
Burns said despite the loss, the event was well received and made good use of the facility.
“We had a lot of people go through it. A lot of people commented — they thought it was great,” he said. “But again, a growing community, people are looking for this stuff. So, hopefully, for the next one, we’ll be a little better at it.”
