As Coromandel Properties files for creditor protection, the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (VCBF) is left seeking a new major sponsor for their upcoming events.
Coromandel has sponsored the for festival five years, providing financial backing for the mostly free activities in April. As the developer drops out due to its own financial situation, the same issue is now a problem for the VCBF.
"To ensure the festival’s programming is not seriously affected, festival executive director Michael Dove is leading a new search for sponsors to support the festival as a whole or its individual signature events," states the VCBF.
Time is short, as the festival is slated to begin April 1 with the first in-person event happening March 25.
“Sponsors play a pivotal role in our ability to put on a festival of this size and ensuring almost all our programming is free of charge and accessible to everyone,” says Dove in a press release. “We are now doing all we can to find new sponsors to ensure that all of our planned programs and events can go ahead."
Among the events put on by the festival are the Big Picnic at David Lam Park and Sakura Days Japan Fair at VanDusen Botanical Garden.
The festival already has several sponsors, including the local, provincial and federal governments, VanDusen gardens, and TransLink.
