As Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest comes to a close this weekend, festival organizers are raising concerns about the increasing costs of security.
Executive director Tracy Van Kalsbeek mentions that in the past five years, expenses for security measures have “skyrocketed” by 50 percent.
“It’s probably more than that,” Van Kalsbeek told . “Things have really skyrocketed and it makes it really hard for festivals like ours.”
This rise in costs coincides with heightened worries about public safety following violent incidents at events, including a shooting at Toronto’s Salsa on St. Clair festival this year and the vehicle-ramming attack at a Filipino street festival in Vancouver back in 2025.
Van Kalsbeek states that Oktoberfest has increased its spending mainly on protecting crowds from potential vehicle threats. This includes implementing Mifram modular vehicle barriers, which can cost around $1,500 each.
“We want to have the best in technology and the best to keep our people safe, but it’s not at no cost,” she said.
Polka King Walter Ostenak and Matthias Luttenberg, the German Ambassador to Canada, tapped the keg at this year’s Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest. The festival shuts down a large part of downtown Kitchener every year for the festivities, and now organizers are saying security costs are becoming too much to cover. (Lauren Kuivenhoven/CBC)
The festival also employs paid-duty police officers, who charge $120 an hour per constable according to the Waterloo Regional Police Service.
This year, K-W Oktoberfest applied for grants to help cover expenses related to hostile vehicle mitigation, but unfortunately their applications were not successful, said Van Kalsbeek.
“We need more funding from partners, sponsorship and the government,” she stated. “If costs keep rising, then we won’t be able to continue hosting these free events and festivals.”
Executive director of K-W Oktoberfest Tracy Van Kalsbeek, left, stands with outgoing ambassador Andre Killingbeck, centre, and president Darryl Fletcher, also known as Chef D. (Diego Pizarro/CBC)
This is a concern Liberal MPP Rob Cerjanec hears from festival organizers across Ontario. He notes that expenses related to hostile vehicle mitigation, baggage checks, paid-duty officers and trained security personnel are becoming burdensome for many festivals.
“It’s starting to become unsustainable,” Cerjanec remarked.
Cerjanec represents Ajax and serves as his party’s critic for tourism, sport and culture; he has written to Tourism, Culture and Gaming Minister Zee Hamid requesting additional support for festivals facing escalating security costs.
WATCH | Liberal MPP says festivals need help with rising security costs:
Liberal MPP says festivals need help with rising security costs
The cost of organizing a festival has increased recently mainly due to heightened demands for added security measures. Liberal MPP Rob Cerjanec points out that organizers aren’t receiving enough assistance and is urging the province to step up.
In his letter , Cerjanec highlights how some festivals are allocating larger portions of their budgets-upwards of 30 percent in certain cases-to security needs. p >
“This means that event programming and engagement aspects are frequently being reduced to absorb other pressures ,” read his letter. p >
His letter proposes three solutions : a one-time funding program aimed at helping festivals purchase physical security infrastructure , dedicated operational funding specifically for security expenditures , along with a regional strategy allowing festivals , municipalities , and community organizations access shared equipment. p >
In an email response sent to , officials from the province mentioned they “continue working alongside our police servicesand municipalitiesto ensure they’re equipped properlyto keep families safe.” p >
The government pointed out a $91.2-million investment throughthe Community Safetyand Policing Grant meantforpolice operations alongwithover$27 millionthrough Experience Ontariothis year intendedto support operationsandsecuritycostsfor over400festivalsandcommunityevents. p >
Cerjanecsaysmoreassistanceisurgentlyneeded. Hehighlightedthecancellationofthe Kitchener Caribana Ignite Festivalearlierthisyearasaconcernreflectingtheimpactofrisingcostsonprovincialevents. Heworriesmanyfestivalwillhave t oscale downtheiractivitiesor startchargingforentryfees. p >
“Wetal kaboutsocial isolationofseniors or justfolks thatfinditdifficulttogoonfamilyoutings. Theseeventsprovidejoyandentertainment. Theyneedtostayalive,”hesaid. p >
He further emphasizedthatfestivalsarevitalfortheprovince’seconomicactivityandt ax revenues. p >
“That’s why I’m sayinglet’ s take actionandhelpourfestivalsandeventsbecauseitplaysanimportantroleinourcultureallacrosstheprovince,”hesaid. p >
Source link
