The man behind a controversial firing is back as the Hyack Festival Association's executive director - for now.
Douglas Smith - who many say breathed new life into the once-stale Hyack Festival - was fired on July 31, but was reinstated after the board at-large voted to ask him back.
"The board invited me back to work. I returned to work last week," Smith told The Record Monday.
The agreement was that he would return to work for a period of one month without prejudice - which means Smith could still take legal action against the association for his dismissal.
As a result of Smith's firing, the Hyack board also passed a motion calling for the four executive members who wanted Smith fired - president Gavin Palmer, treasurer Gloria Munro, vicepresident Alan Wardle, and incoming president Nadine Proulx - to resign. But they refused to give up their seats.
Palmer wouldn't comment on Smith's firing to The Record, saying, "it's an employment matter."
The Hyack Festival Association board is holding a special general meeting at the Royal City Curling Club (75 East Sixth Ave.) on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. to vote on whether to remove the four executive board members who wanted Smith fired.
"It would be great if 500 (people) came and suddenly took out memberships at Hyack and went and voted - that would show them how the community really feels," said Smith, who does have his share of supporters.
Among them is businessman Bart Slotman, vice-president of Uptown Property Group and copresenter of Uptown Live, a musical event Smith helped organize. He recently wrote a letter to the editor praising Smith's work with Hyack.
"Hyack Festival Association is undermining the progress it has made in the last two years," he wrote about the firing.
Smith, who has been credited with re-vamping
Hyack by bringing a modern vibe to the festival, including live music, was told he was being let go because of an incident that occurred on Canada Day during a live music performance.
A group was being disruptive during a Concerts on The Quay performance. Smith intervened, and later one of the group members accused Smith of assaulting him.
Smith was never charged for the incident.
But Smith questioned the rationale for his firing, and speculated that it may have also been related to the festival's strategic plan.
"I don't think it's a coincidence that I was removed at a time when we were conducting strategic planning sessions with the city," he said. "I think they're probably very uncomfortable with the vision that we have set forth for the organization."
The strategic plan includes a name change for Hyack: Festivals New West.
"It was pointed out that the name 'pigeon-holes' the organization to an event held within a twoweek period in May but does not reflect the fact the association is coordinating a variety of events throughout the entire year," said a report by Smith on the rebranding.
Consultants have stated that the current Hyack logo is outdated, according to the report, called Hyack Festival Association Rebranding Inititative.
Smith said he wanted to stay positive, despite everything that has gone on.
"I am very disappointed in the actions taken over the past few weeks and the resulting impact on organization," he wrote an email. "I would like to publicly thank many community partners and sponsors who have expressed their support. is very gratifying to know they are fully supportive of the vision we have for the organization."
For more information on Hyack, visit hyack. bc.ca/wordpress.
