There is a new Chair of the Owen Sound Emancipation Festival.
Blaine Courtney is taking over the job on an interim basis — since long time Chair Dennis Scott announced his resignation on the weekend.
A news release from the Festival says Scott made the decision for personal reasons.
Scott was behind the move of the 149th Emancipation Celebration this summer — to Kelso Beach from Harrison Park.
Scott says the size of the audience coming to the festival each year is growing, and they want to secure a place within the Owen Sound community that can handle growth for years to come.
Scott notes the more they expand the festival — the more funds they can gain.
And with those funds, Scott says they can put more events into the festival, and do more research about black history.
The Owen Sound Emancipation Celebration Festival is the longest running festival in the Grey-Bruce region.
