Boots and Hearts comes to a bittersweet end
Canada’s largest camping and music festival came to a close on Sunday in Oro-Medonte, as Boots and Hearts was capped off by headliner Jason Aldean’s performance on the main stage.
"We’ve got more than 25,000 [people],” said Todd Jenereux, executive vice-president for the festival and Republic Live as Burl’s Creek Event Grounds were being packed up on Monday. “This was by far our best execution year [and] the most fun we’ve ever had.”
After Thursday’s kickoff party, 30 performers took the stage from Friday to Sunday.
Saturday evening was headlined by Thomas Rhett’s performance, which was followed by a handful of Canadian artists taking the stage on Sunday. Among them, Elmvale’s Dayna Reid and Innisfil’s Brian John Hardwood, who both performed at Boots and Hearts for the first time after previously attending for many years as fans.
Jackson Dean performing at Boots and Hearts in Oro- Medonte Ont., on Saturday August 10, 2024 (CTVNews/Dave Sullivan)
"I’ve came every year in the audience, just praying that one day I’d be on stage,” said Hardwood. “I just worked me butt off and kept going,”
Hardwood and Reid also confirmed they had plenty of family and friends in the crowd.
"It’s my hope that I can motivate some other small town kid just like from Elmvale Ontario to chase their dreams too,” said Reid.
Avril Lavigne was a surprise guest for Nate Smith’s performance Sunday evening. Before headliner Jason Aldean, Alberta-based band Emerson Drive performed for what will likely be their final time at Boots and Hearts, as it was a stop on their farewell tour that was announced in 2023.
“I think this is extra special for guys like us that understand that it’s a unique experience to be able to play the festivals that we do have up here [in Canada],” said Brad Mates, the band’s lead singer.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
Officials say planning for next year’s Boots and Hearts festival got underway months ago, and that they are currently focused on booking their headline performers. The All Your Friends Fest takes place at Burl’s Creek the weekend of August 23-24.
Top Stories
-
-
-
-
-
-
WITH VIDEOWITH VIDEO Caught on camera: Man walks off with porch furniture from Barrie home
-
-
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING
BREAKING Israeli military says it has carried out a 'targeted strike' in Beirut
The Israeli military said it carried out a 'targeted strike' in the Lebanese capital Beirut on Friday.
'It's disgusting': Quebec minister reacts after body of boy, 14, found near Hells Angels hideout
The province's public security minister said he was "shocked" Thursday amid reports that a body believed to be that of a 14-year-old boy was found this week near a Hells Angels hideout near Quebec City.
Woman nearly shut out of mother's will sues brother in B.C. Supreme Court – and wins
Since she was a young girl growing up in Vancouver, Ginny Lam says her mom Yat Hei Law made it very clear she favoured her son William, because he was her male heir.
Cognitive decline reduced by MIND diet, especially for women and Black people, study finds
Following the MIND diet for 10 years produced a small but significant decrease in the risk of developing thinking, concentration and memory problems, a new study found.
Ontario man to pay $1,500 surcharge after insurer says his SUV is at higher risk of theft
An Ontario man says it is 'unfair' to pay a $1,500 insurance surcharge because his four-year-old SUV is at a higher risk of being stolen.
Montreal couple facing deportation to Mexico granted temporary residency
The Montreal couple from Mexico and their three children facing deportation have received a temporary residence permit.
Federal firearm buyback program has cost $67M, still not collecting guns after 4 years
The federal firearm buyback program has cost taxpayers nearly $67.2 million since it was announced in 2020, but it still hasn't collected a single gun.
Lawyers say former Harrods boss Al Fayed was a 'monster' who abused women and girls
Lawyers representing dozens of women who say they were raped and sexually abused by Mohamed Al Fayed, the former boss of the famous London department store Harrods, said the case was akin to the crimes of sex offenders Jimmy Savile, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein.
NEW
NEW Health data collected from Indigenous Peoples in Canada has a dark history. One Indigenous company is turning that around
Software company Mustimuhw Information, which develops medical records systems built on a foundation of Indigenous traditions and values, is allowing health providers to capture data informed by cultural practices.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
Kitchener
-
Ayr couple out almost $23K after closure of Kitchener pool store
Amber and Adam Brueckner have a pool-shaped hole in their backyard – and their wallets.
-
Missing family last seen in a rideshare vehicle in Kitchener, Ont.
New details have been shared about a missing family that was last seen on Sept. 1 in Kitchener, Ont.
-
Police seek to identify 'suspicious' person
Police are trying to identify a man who approached a woman and child in Wellesley.
London
-
Four teens rob north London store, assault employee
Police say just before 7:00 p.m. four teens entered a business in the 1000 block of Adelaide Street North.
-
Heavy police presence in downtown London as result of weapons investigation
Police were focusing their attention on the northeast corner of Richmond and Horton, with members of the emergency response unit taking up positions at the scene.
-
'It will double our size': major residential development in Elgin County communities
An Elgin County community is expected to double in size as plans for multiple residential developments loom. The Township of Southwold expects shovels in the ground as early as 2025.
Windsor
-
Fight over text leads to arrest and charges in Chatham
On Thursday, just after 9:30 a.m., a man was found and taken to police headquarters, where he was released with conditions and a future court date.
-
Dozens gather to 'Take Back the Night' in downtown Windsor
Standing up, speaking out, and showing solidarity — survivors and supporters gathered in the core to take back the night in Windsor. The city is just one of a growing list of communities that have declared intimate partner violence (IPV) an epidemic.
-
Windsor police seize $56,000 in drugs, arrest made
The Windsor Police Service (WPS) has seized over $56,000 in drugs and have arrested one suspect.
Northern Ontario
-
BREAKINGBREAKING Four dead in northern Ontario house fire
Emergency crews in northern Ontario found the bodies of four people inside a home where a fire broke out Thursday night.
-
Northeastern Ontario under a high forest fire rating
As northern Ontario gets ready to welcome autumn this weekend, it’s still feeling a lot like summer as provincial forest fire crews continue to battle blazes.
-
Ontario man to pay $1,500 surcharge after insurer says his SUV is at higher risk of theft
An Ontario man says it is 'unfair' to pay a $1,500 insurance surcharge because his four-year-old SUV is at a higher risk of being stolen.
Sault Ste. Marie
-
Health data show higher rates of some forms of cancer in Algoma district
A new community health profile in the Algoma District shows the area is significantly below provincial averages in a number of health metrics.
-
One person dead following North Bay industrial incident
North Bay Police Service says one person has died following an industrial accident at the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission Rail Yard on Tuesday.
-
Car trouble in northern Ontario results in drug bust
Three northern Ontario residents are charged with drug trafficking after the vehicle they were in got stuck along a bush road off Highway 17 on Monday.
Ottawa
-
BREAKING NEWSBREAKING NEWS Stabbing leaves man in life-threatening condition on Baseline Road
A man has been taken to hospital in life-threatening condition following a stabbing incident that happened on Baseline Road in the early hours of Friday morning, according to the Ottawa Paramedic Service.
-
Man dies in hospital after shooting in Heron Gate area
Police say a man who was taken to hospital in critical condition after being shot Thursday night has died.
-
Here's how it feels in Ottawa this Friday
Higher than average temperatures are in the forecast for Ottawa this Friday.
Toronto
-
Toronto mom pleads for return of young son allegedly abducted by dad during Vietnam trip
For the last seven-and-half months, Toronto resident Heather McArthur has been living out what she describes as her 'worst nightmare.' On Feb. 7, her then three-year-old son Jacob along with his father Loc Phu 'Jay' Le departed for what was supposed to be a week-long visit to Vietnam to celebrate the Lunar New Year with family, McArthur says.
-
Ontario man to pay $1,500 surcharge after insurer says his SUV is at higher risk of theft
An Ontario man says it is 'unfair' to pay a $1,500 insurance surcharge because his four-year-old SUV is at a higher risk of being stolen.
-
How a group of Toronto tenants turned to a risky last resort and got a 'huge victory'
In the middle of the small crowd — near the tents, the lineup of kids awaiting face painting, the snack table — stood a jubilant Chiara Padovani. 'When I say 'tenant, you say 'power,'' she commanded to several dozen tenants, who chanted back with gusto. What looked like a summer block party in front of two north-end Toronto apartment buildings last month was a celebration of what renters who withheld payments for months called a 'huge victory.'
Montreal
-
Montreal couple facing deportation to Mexico granted temporary residency
The Montreal couple from Mexico and their three children facing deportation have received a temporary residence permit.
-
'It's disgusting': Quebec minister reacts after body of boy, 14, found near Hells Angels hideout
The province's public security minister said he was "shocked" Thursday amid reports that a body believed to be that of a 14-year-old boy was found this week near a Hells Angels hideout near Quebec City.
-
Quebec Premier François Legault's approval rating continued to rise this summer
Premier François Legault's approval rating continued to rise this summer, according to the Angus Reid Institute. After reaching a low at the end of 2023, his support rose by three percentage points over the summer to 39 per cent.
Atlantic
-
Maritime gas prices increase for first time in more than a month
Gas prices increased in all three Maritime provinces for the first time in more than a month.
-
N.S. woman with painful condition seeks MAID amid battle to fund surgical treatment
A Nova Scotia woman has applied for a medically assisted death, saying after years of battling to receive out-of-country surgery for an illness that causes "indescribable" pain, she struggles to maintain the will to live.
-
Section of Herring Cove Road in Halifax closed to traffic after vehicle crashes into power poles
A section of Herring Cove Road in the Spryfield area of Halifax is closed to traffic in both directions following a single-vehicle collision Friday morning.
Winnipeg
-
'They're dying up north': Possible parvovirus outbreak in Manitoba
A Winnipeg pet rescue is putting out a warning to dog owners across the city about a possible parvovirus in the province.
-
Missing six-year-old boy disappeared after school breakfast program: Manitoba RCMP
Shamattawa RCMP are searching for a missing six-year-old boy who hasn’t been seen since Wednesday morning.
-
'I'm devastated': Manitobans cleaning up after surge of rain floods communities
Manitobans are continuing to mop up after a deluge of rain hit southern Manitoba earlier in the week.
Calgary
-
Murder suspect wrote 'I'm sorry' in blood on cell wall to Banff, Alta., stabbing victim, court hears
Defence counsel for accused murderer John-Christopher Arrizza argues he was in an “altered state of mind” due to days of drug and alcohol use, sleep deprivation and not eating, when he fatally stabbed a man at a Banff nightclub in 2022.
-
Dangerous offender who left Alberta woman in vegetative state denied parole
The Parole Board of Canada says a man who assaulted a young pregnant woman and left her for dead remains too dangerous to be released into the community.
-
5 bison killed in collision with trucks at Elk Island National Park
Five bison are dead at Elk Island National Park east of Edmonton following an early Thursday morning collision.
Edmonton
-
5 bison killed in collision with trucks at Elk Island National Park
Five bison are dead at Elk Island National Park east of Edmonton following an early Thursday morning collision.
-
'Thank God we're alive': Apartment building evacuated due to fire
A mother and daughter say they woke up to flames encroaching on their third-floor apartment near Commonwealth Stadium early Friday morning.
-
Man charged with sexually assaulting a teen is an Alberta sheriff
An Edmonton man who is charged with sexually assaulting a teen boy is a member of the Alberta sheriffs, CTV News Edmonton has confirmed.
Regina
-
AI photo of purple apples growing in Sask. sparks attention, experts debunk image
A social media post of purple apples “growing” in Saskatchewan has sparked a lot of attention. However, garden experts say there's no such thing.
-
Sask. court orders trial in fraud case after $100K in stolen cash was traded for bitcoin
A case involving stolen funds from a Saskatchewan business being used to purchase cryptocurrency will be heading back to the courts, thanks to a new decision by Saskatchewan's Court of Appeal.
-
Cognitive decline reduced by MIND diet, especially for women and Black people, study finds
Following the MIND diet for 10 years produced a small but significant decrease in the risk of developing thinking, concentration and memory problems, a new study found.
Saskatoon
-
Sask. mother says gym teacher at private Christian school hit her 7-year-old in the head with a relay baton
A gym teacher at a private Christian school in Saskatoon has been charged. Terra MacEwan, 44, is charged with assault with a weapon. A Saskatoon mother who spoke with CTV News says her autistic son was MacEwan's victim.
-
In letters to slain girlfriend's family, Thomas Hamp said he thinks weed caused his psychotic break
Thomas Hamp says he believed secret police were out to kidnap, torture, and kill him when he fatally stabbed his girlfriend Emily Sanche in February of 2022.
-
AI photo of purple apples growing in Sask. sparks attention, experts debunk image
A social media post of purple apples “growing” in Saskatchewan has sparked a lot of attention. However, garden experts say there's no such thing.
Vancouver
-
Woman dead, toddler uninjured following B.C. police shooting, watchdog says
B.C.'s police watchdog is investigating the death of a woman who was shot by the RCMP after allegedly barricading herself in a room with a toddler early Thursday morning.
-
Woman nearly shut out of mother's will sues brother in B.C. Supreme Court – and wins
Since she was a young girl growing up in Vancouver, Ginny Lam says her mom Yat Hei Law made it very clear she favoured her son William, because he was her male heir.
-
'Namgis First Nation touts success of land-based fish farming
The 'Namgis First Nation says a fish farm it owns near Port McNeill shows the potential of land-based aquaculture in B.C.
Vancouver Island
-
'Seems very political': Greater Victoria teachers surprised by ministerial order on student safety
In a rare move, the Greater Victoria School District Board of Education has been slapped with a ministerial order from the province requiring it to update a student safety plan – drawing concern around political posturing leading up to an election.
-
UBCM calls for province to pay for free transit for teenagers
The Union of B.C. Municipalities is asking the provincial government to make transit free for teenagers.
-
B.C. senior recalls becoming trailblazing car designer
To appreciate why Mimi Vandermolen is so pleased to notice one particular vehicle she’s walking past, you need to know that seeing this many cars in one place would have been unimaginable when she was growing-up in the post-war Netherlands.
