Local fairs and festivals struggling due to lack of volunteers
Several local fairs and festivals are calling off their upcoming events due to a lack of volunteers. Meanwhile one festival is thriving.
The Mount Forest Fall Fair is one of many that had to cancel this year’s event.
“It's sad to see the end of an era,” Wellington North Mayor Andy Lennox said. “Unfortunately after 160 years the fall fair will not happen in Mount Forest because we don't have the Agriculture Society or volunteer organization to make it happen.”
It’s a situation that’s not unique to Mount Forest.
The Brantford Kinsmen Rib Fest was also forced to call off this summer's event.
“I mean everybody wants these events to happen in the summer, but nobody seems to want to contribute to be able to make them happen,” said Jeffery Hardin, the entertainment coordinator at the Brantford Kinsmen Rib Fest.
Paired with the lack of a suitable location, getting volunteers has been a struggle.
“It makes me feel exhausted but it stresses us out a bit and it makes the few people that we do have involved wear five or six or seven different hats in putting this event together,” Harding said.
The Norfolk County Agricultural Society said they understand that feeling.
“The volunteer base is aging and I think a lot of those people were uncomfortable coming out of COVID to get back into things,” said Angela Hogeveen the general manager at the Norfolk County Agricultural Society.
The Norfolk County fairgrounds festival is not only staying alive, but finding a way to thrive.
Some of that funding is coming from the municipality through a program called Amplify Norfolk – an initiative that supports numerous live events in Norfolk. It has stirred up a lot of community interested with planned performances from groups like The Beaches, Finger Eleven, Sloan and Bif Naked.
The acts have helped recruit younger volunteers.
“I mean without that support, it wouldn't be possible,” said Hogeveen.
The goal is to: “to attract tourists to Norfolk County through live entertainment events and generate spillover effects for Norfolk businesses, establishing Norfolk County as a premiere destination for live entertainment in Ontario,” their website said.
Without proper access to funding and volunteers, the fall of fairs and festivals could be a sign of the future.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Ottawa injects another $36M into fund for those seriously injured or killed by vaccines
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Video shows suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Ex-SNC executive sentenced to prison term in bridge bribery case
The RCMP says a former SNC-Lavalin executive has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in connection with a bribery scheme for a bridge repair contract in Montreal.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.