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Stan Rogers Folk Festival
Finalist
Nova Scotia Community Economic Development Award
for Best New CED Project

November 26, 1998

Last July over 400 volunteers welcomed 10,000 visitors to Canso for the Stan Rogers Folk Festival. That's an amazing accomplishment when you consider that Canso is a community of 1200 people. The volunteers, most of whom are residents of Guysborough County, have gained international attention for the community by promoting the legacy of Stan Rogers and the musical heritage of Nova Scotia. Artists come from across Canada and around the world to participate in the festival, as do thousands of music lovers, bringing their wallets with them. In 1997, the festival brought $1.3 million dollars to the area. This year's festival, which saw attendance up by 30% over '97, has had an economic impact of about $1.7 million dollars in Guysborough County.

Assisted by the Guysborough Regional Development Authority, the Chedabucto Bay Folk Society pioneered the event in 1997. Now, with the exception of a minority of contract professionals, the Stan Rogers Folk Festival is produced and staffed by local volunteers, who in true CED fashion take pride in running their own show. The festival has brought more than money to the area. It has also brought new skills to the area, with residents receiving training and gaining experience in running an international event. It's a social, cultural and economic success story.