The Exploration Place is seeking more funding to operate the Little Prince.
CEO Tracy Calogheros made a presentation to Prince George City Council at tonight’s (Monday) meeting requesting the funding.
The train is owned by the City, but operated by Exploration Place.
Calogheros said the train, originally built in 1912, is the only one of its kind operating in the world today.
“In 2023 we operated only on Thursdays, and we got lucky there were no significant track repairs, no major train repairs,” Calogheros said.
The City currently contributes $25,000 per year to operate the train.
Calogheros noted they’ve lost money on the train every year they’ve ran it since 2009.
“We are not in a position, as a Charity, at this moment, to be able to manage any risk, our financial situation is extraordinarily fragile at the moment, as are most charities coming out of COVID,” she continued.
“That’s why I’ve come back here to you to say to you, at the request of City Parks staff, to tell you that if train’s going to continue to operate, the City’s going to have to get serious about it, because we can’t carry it any further.”
Exploration Place says for operations at four days a week, they will need $100,000 per year with a three-to-five year commitment, as well as a new workshed/storage shed.
When asked why this came two weeks before budget meetings, Calogheros said this wasn’t an ask.
“I’m telling you what it’s going to cost to operate your train, this is not the museum’s train, and I’m not here with my hand out, I am not a supplicant,” she said.
“This organization’s been operating this train since 2009 and I have been telling this City Council since 2009, that it is vastly underfunded, so from my perspective, we got here because I wasn’t listened to.”
“This has historic value, and this has community value, and rather than getting into the value or non-value of this in our community, it’s about what can the city do Practically,” said Councillor Kyle Sampson.
Council voted unanimously to have the request for funding be referred to City Administration for options and information, and that the operational budget return to City Council in time for budget discussions.
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