Moncton — In hopes of raising the $107 million needed for the proposed sports and entertainment centre in Moncton’s downtown core, city council members hosted a bake sale today in front of city hall. City councillors were said to have spent the previous evening making baked goods late into the night and have been soliciting passersby with scones, Rice Krispies squares and other goodies for several hours today.
“With no commitment yet from either the federal or provincial governments to help fund the project, we decided to take matters into our own hands,” said Coun. Linda Shore. “So far today we’ve already raised over $36 and we’ve only been out here for 6 hours. We’ve sold over half our scones and the brownies are selling like hot-cakes.” Adding, “You should try one, only 50 cents apiece.”
In addition to the bake sale, which Mayor George Leblanc said will be held daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., city staff will also be holding a car wash in the city hall parking lot beginning tomorrow. “Only $5 a wash, and that includes a wax!” exclaimed LeBlanc. “We’re also selling raffle tickets at the front desk. A loonie for one ticket and a toonie will get you 3. At the end of the month we’ll be having a draw for a chance to win some snazzy City of Moncton swag — wind-breakers, visors, fanny-packs — all sorts of great stuff.”
Other ideas currently being tabled by council to help raise the tens of millions of dollars needed for the construction of the massive building project include selling candy bars door-to-door, a “fun run” and possibly even a dunk tank, where Moncton residents can pay for a chance to dunk the mayor.
Also in the works is a Shakespearian play, which will feature the mayor and the entire city council as cast. “We don’t want to give too much away,” said LeBlanc. “But I will say it’s a sort of fun, tongue-in-cheek version of Romeo and Juliet with a futuristic twist.”