Impacts of Kempenfelt cancellation felt across Barrie
It was a different scene in downtown Barrie this civic long weekend, with the annual Kempenfest cancelled for the second year in a row.
The popular arts festival is the largest of its kind across North America. However, due to uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers decided to cancel the event once again.
The event typically brings together more than 400 different vendors, including musicians, food vendors and local artisans. It also typically brings a major boost to the local economy.
"It's just over $12-million to the local economy, and that's per year, and this is the second year in a row, so that's a big hit," says Todd Tuckey, the chair of the annual festival.
The loss was noticed by local businesses as well, with one downtown restaurant telling CTV News sales were down compared to a typical long weekend in August.
"It's usually an amazing weekend for us," says Heather Anderson, the manager of Pie Wood Fired Pizza, located in downtown Barrie. "Usually, this weekend is very busy, weather pending as well; it's been raining this whole time, but we have been slow compared to our normal.
"Officials say in addition to the losses felt by area businesses, which typically count on the festival for a boost in revenue, it has also been felt by the vendors, who also depend on it for income.
There are plans in place for its return next year from July 29 to August 1.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Saskatchewan households will continue to receive carbon tax rebate: Trudeau
Households in Saskatchewan will continue to receive Canada Carbon Rebate payments, despite the province refusing to remit natural gas levies to the federal government, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday.
''It's just so hard to let it go': Umar Zameer still haunted by death of Toronto police officer
'We hoped for this day, but we were scared that it would not never ever come because it took so long.' That’s what Umar Zameer, the man recently acquitted in the death of a Toronto police officer, told CTV News Toronto in a sit-down interview on Tuesday.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
North Bay doctor accused of assaulting patient, threatening another
A North Bay doctor is facing charges after allegedly assaulting a patient with a weapon and threatening another person at the hospital, police say.