Privateer Days executive stepping down.

Privateer Days is in need of new leadership, after the executive directors for the annual festival stepped down en masse.

Executive director Brian Fralic has worked with Privateer Days for the past 10 years, and says for most of them it came down to not being enjoyable anymore.

Although criticism is part of the job, this year it seemed to be particularly nasty, he said. There was a group from Halifax that was not hired to take part that were vocal about not returning, backlash over the drag queens entry into the parade, along with prolonged criticism of other aspects of the festival.

“After that happened it left a bad taste in our mouth,” said Fralic. “And clearly having hate mail sent to you is not a fun experience.”

Fralic says the committee has worked very hard to build the festival into what it is today, and is proud to leave the festival in the shape it is. When he came on board the festival was $50,000 in debt. From there he says the committee paid off the debt in three years, and brought on new events such as Darren Hudson and his log rolling demonstration and the multicultural festival.

“There was never a year where I thought we did just OK. I thought every year was great,” he said. “After every festival we’d turn around and see how we could raise the bar.”

However after the events of this year the executive committee feels it is now time for them to step back and let others take the helm.