A touring tent of arts and performances is returning to Larches for a second year.
The Mobile Event Tent (MET) was set up at the St Bernard’s Larches and Savick Community Hub last summer.
And Preston City Council has confirmed it will be back for another month-long run hosting a diverse range of events many of which are free or low-cost.
Nearly 1,800 people visited events last summer at the MET in Elswick Road which was the highest on record compared to previous locations of the mobile venue which has previously been in Ribbleton, the university square and on the old Markets car park site during the Animate construction period.
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The city council say the Larches edition of the MET saw nearly 750 more visits than the previous year when it was on the Tesco car park in Blackpool Road.
Performances and events are managed by local co-producer Emma Caffrey who is from the Community Hub organisation in Larches.
Emma Caffrey outside St Bernards in Larches Pic: Blog Preston
She said: “We’re coming back with The MET. Last year was so good and so many people enjoyed it and came out to attend events. I was asked to do the programme again, and I got so much out of delivering it to the public that I said yes.
“I’m currently working on the programme to make it bigger and better than last year. We had 42 events last year and this year I want to reach at least 45 events. It’s going to be fun-packed and a busy programme, but I’m sure I’ll do Larches and Preston proud of The MET in its final year in Larches. Most events will be free and open access, with some ticketed activities.”
The MET is put on in conjunction with arts group In Certain Places who pioneered the building of the tent which has space of up to 100 people and a 12x12m open event space.
Co-curator of In Certain Places, Charles Quick, said: “In Certain Places recognises the important part that that culture can play in creating community cohesion, developing an identity and raising aspirations especially within communities on the periphery of our cities.
“We are building on last year’s successful approach of working in partnership with our community coordinator Emma Caffrey to engage the community through open focus groups to create a program that truly reflects the interests and talent of the communities of the Larches and Savick.”
In its recent budget the city council’s Labour administration committed £180,000 in the next two years to funding the MET and bringing culture to communities beyond the city centre.
Cabinet member for culture and arts, councillor Anna Hindle, said: “The MET is a powerful example of how culture can be embedded directly within our communities. By bringing high-quality creative activity into Larches and Savick, we are increasing access to opportunity, supporting young people and families, and strengthening pride in place.
“The growth in attendance last year demonstrates the real appetite for locally rooted cultural programming. We are proud to continue supporting The MET in partnership with In Certain Places and the local community.”
The MET will operate in Larches from Friday 17 July through to Saturday 15 August meaning many of the events fall within the school summer holidays.
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/a-quebec-flag-right-a-stack-of-money.jpg?id=61453954&width=1200&height=800&coordinates=97%2C0%2C98%2C0"/><br/><br/><p><a href="https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1410006301&pickMembers%5B0%5D=1.6&pickMembers%5B1%5D=2.2&pickMembers%5B2%5D=3.1&pickMembers%5B3%5D=5.1&pickMembers%5B4%5D=6.1&cubeTimeFrame.startMonth=03&cubeTimeFrame.startYear=2025&cubeTimeFrame.endMonth=07&cubeTimeFrame.endYear=2025&referencePeriods=20250301%2C20250701" target="_blank">Statistics Canada's newest numbers</a> on average pay by industry in Quebec show exactly <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/average-salary-quebec-canada-2025" target="_blank">how much workers in different sectors are earning</a> — and there are some big surprises in the rankings.</p><p>The updated report isn't focused on individual job titles like "surgeon" or "software developer." Instead, the data breaks down hourly wages across major industries, covering both full- and part-time employees. That means each category includes a wide range of roles and salaries, from entry-level to senior management, with big differences depending on overtime, schedules and union coverage.</p><p>While jobs in medicine, law, or engineering often top people's lists for high salaries, the data show that working in those fields doesn't guarantee the biggest paycheck. In some industries, earnings are higher across the board, regardless of job title, offering insight into where your skills could pay off the most.</p><p>Here's how every industry in Quebec stacked up in July 2025, ranked by average hourly wage (lowest to highest).</p><h3>Accommodation & food services</h3><br/><p>Average hourly wage: $20.64</p><p>Restaurants, hotels, catering and bars all fall into this category. At $20.64 an hour, it's the lowest-paying sector in Quebec — but it's also a key employer for students, part-time workers and people looking to build customer service experience.</p><h3>Agriculture</h3><br/><p>Average hourly wage: $22.85</p><p>From farms and orchards to fisheries and greenhouses, agriculture saw one of the biggest month-to-month drops in July, down from $24.93 in June. Seasonal work and fluctuating hours can have a big impact on earnings here.</p><h3>Wholesale & retail trade</h3><br/><p>Average hourly wage: $26.77</p><p>This includes wholesalers selling in bulk to businesses and retailers selling directly to consumers. The gap between the lowest and highest earners can be huge, thanks to everything from minimum-wage retail jobs to high-commission sales roles.</p><h3>Business, building & other support services</h3><br/><p>Average hourly wage: $27.04</p><p>This broad category covers services like cleaning, security, staffing, call centres and administrative support. While pay is on the lower end, it's a diverse sector with plenty of entry points.</p><h3>Other services (except public administration)</h3><br/><p>Average hourly wage: $30.26</p><p>Think repair shops, pet grooming, non-profits, laundry services and more. Pay here tends to vary depending on specialization and client base.</p><h3>Health care & social assistance</h3><br/><p>Average hourly wage: $31.72</p><p>Hospitals, clinics, elder care, childcare and social services are included here. While most doctors make way more than $32 an hour, the field mixes high-paying specialized medical roles with lower-paid care and support jobs.</p><h3>Transportation & warehousing</h3><br/><p>Average hourly wage: $31.93</p><p>Covers everything from airlines and public transit to trucking, shipping and storage. Quebec's size and trade links keep this industry in demand.</p><h3>Information, culture & recreation</h3><br/><p>Average hourly wage: $32.35</p><p>Film, publishing, broadcasting, museums, gyms and sports facilities all fit here. It's a sector where a handful of top earners can skew the average.</p><h3>Manufacturing</h3><br/><p>Average hourly wage: $35.44</p><p>Factories and plants producing goods from cars to pharmaceuticals make up this sector. Stable demand and union coverage help keep wages competitive.</p><h3>Construction</h3><br/><p>Average hourly wage: $37.50</p><p>Residential, commercial and infrastructure projects, plus trades like plumbing and electrical, fall here. Skilled labour shortages have kept pay strong.</p><h3>Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil & gas</h3><br/><p>Average hourly wage: $38.16<br/>Physically demanding and often remote, these jobs remain some of the best-paid in Quebec despite monthly fluctuations.</p><h3>Public administration</h3><br><p><br/>Average hourly wage: $43.73</p><p>Federal, provincial and municipal government jobs make up this sector, known for stability, benefits and competitive pay.</p><h3>Finance, insurance, real estate & leasing</h3><br><p>Average hourly wage: $43.76</p><p>Banks, insurers, mortgage brokers, real estate firms and rental companies are all in this category, which consistently ranks near the top in wages.</p><h3>Professional, scientific & technical services</h3><br/><p>Average hourly wage: $44.16</p><p>Legal services, accounting, engineering, IT, consulting and design are part of this diverse field, where pay varies widely depending on specialization.</p><h3>Educational services</h3><br/><p>Average hourly wage: $45.19</p><p>Schools, colleges, universities and training programs fall here. Pay is relatively even across the board compared to other industries.</p><p>In July, the median weekly wage rose 3.57% year-over-year to $1,449.98, with the hourly rate up 3.31% to $40.90. Wages also jumped 8.56% from June, suggesting summer jobs in this sector, though fewer, tend to pay more.</p><h3>Utilities</h3><br/><p>Average hourly wage: $54.13</p><p>Electricity, natural gas, water and sewage services top the list as Quebec's highest-paying industry. Wages here are among the most consistent, with fewer extreme gaps between roles.</p></br></br><p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em></p><p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p><p><em>This story was adapted from an <a href="nada-2025" target="_blank">August 11 article</a> that was originally published on Narcity.</em></p>
