Kempenfest's return a huge economic boom for Barrie
After two years of cancellations, Kempenfest has returned to Barrie's waterfront for its 50th year. The popular festival was postponed twice due to the pandemic, but it is back and bigger than ever, giving a huge economic boom to Barrie.
"We see some of our busiest days during Kempenfest, during festivals, during fairs," said Nicholas King of PIE Wood Fired Pizza Joint. "Any of that stuff is a huge boost and we are happy people come check us out afterwards or during."
Organizers said the boost to the city's shopkeepers is massive, with evidence to show from the Ministry of Tourism.
"Their estimates put us between $8 to $10 million in local boost to the economy here," said Tom Aikins, sponsorship and marketing coordinator. "From hotels to restaurants and that probably doesn't really include what goes on with the vendors here."
Proceeds from Kempenfest are used to raise funds for local charities. Aikins said the absence of the event had cost non-profits an estimated $250,000.
"This is a fundraiser for a lot of non-profit groups who help us organize it," he added. "So we get rotary to run the beer gardens and we let them keep all the profits from beer sales."
Kempenfest kicked off Friday with the Sheepdogs as its headliner. The event runs all weekend long, wrapping up on Aug., 2.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.