Barrhaven Canada Day event facing $15,000 financial shortfall
The future of one of Ottawa's largest volunteer-run Canada Day celebrations hangs in the balance as it grapples with cuts to grants from all three levels of government.
The July 1 event in Barrhaven is not alone. In recent years, many other festivals have faced similar funding setbacks.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
In less than two months, Clarke Fields Park in Barrhaven will be transformed into a red and white carnival for a fun-filled Canada Day with rides, games, food, and live entertainment, all organized by volunteers led by Darrell Bartraw.
"There's not a day that passes that I and my team are not doing something for Canada Day," he said.
Funding slashed
This year, however, the longstanding Canada Day event is faced with a significant financial blow after a federal grant was slashed by 30 per cent and two others — one from the province and one from the City of Ottawa — were nixed. The event finds itself short $15,000 in a time when costs like insurance, security and services have soared.
The Canadian Heritage Grant program, from which the organizers typically receive $14,000, only granted $10,000 this year. Bartraw says hopes for additional support from the City of Ottawa Civic Funding Grant program were dashed when the committee received zero funding despite requesting $3,000.
Compounding their financial woes, changes to the Province of Ontario's Experience Ontario program presented another setback. In 2023, the committee received a substantial $52,500 grant from the program. A recent rule change, however, capped the maximum allowable grant at $20,000, leaving the organizers empty-handed despite their application for the full amount.
"And then we lost a major stage sponsor," said Bartraw. "We're at, like, $160,000 to run an event of this size. We've had some emergency meetings and we had to decide what stays and what doesn't stay. And we've had to cut back in a number of areas."
Cutting back
Bartraw says the event has had to cut back on a few things.
"We've had to cut back on our entertainment this year and we've had to drastically cut back on who we are bringing in to save us a few thousand dollars," says Bartraw. "The event is still going to be for the people coming here an amazing show for all ages."
Area MPP Lisa McLeod calls the Canada Day event a Barrhaven staple and says she has contacted the premier's office to see how the province can help.
In recent years, other festivals like the Canadian Tulip Festival and Jazzfest have seen funding slashed.
"Unfortunately, I think that's the reality for many of the festivals that we have and the activities that are so important to our community," said Barrhaven West Coun. David Hill.
"I'm going to be out there volunteering as well, flipping pancakes and, and helping to make it a good time as best we can."
Bartraw says with the help of the many dedicated community sponsors, a GoFundMe, and an upcoming comedy show at the Waterford Grand Retirement Residence, the Barrhaven festival might be able to recover.
"This will still be a great show and we're very excited to bring back our midway, our main stage, our kids zone, and our seniors breakfast that we do every year, which is free for all the seniors," says Bartraw. "We just hope we can continue to do what we've been doing for 42 years and just have the best Canada Day celebration we can for the people of Barrhaven."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Toronto eliminated from PWHL playoffs
Toronto has been eliminated from the PWHL playoffs.
Dabney Coleman, actor who specialized in curmudgeons, dies at 92
Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in '9 to 5' and the nasty TV director in 'Tootsie,' has died. He was 92.
Information commissioner faces $700K funding shortfall, says system is 'overwhelmed'
Canada's information commissioner says her office is facing a $700,000 funding shortfall that could impact its ability to investigate complaints about government transparency and accountability.
Backlash over NFL player Harrison Butker's commencement speech has reached a new level
The NFL is distancing itself from controversial comments by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during a recent commencement address.
Craig Berube named as next head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have named Craig Berube as their new head coach.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta boundary: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.