Performers and participants disappointed following cancellation of Cambridge Scottish Festival

The Cambridge Scottish Festival has been cancelled for this year, just days before it was supposed to start. CTV’s Colton Wiens finds out why.

A Scottish festival that has been taking place in Waterloo Region for decades has been cancelled just days before it was scheduled to begin, shocking performers and participants.

The Blair Scottish Country Dancers was preparing for an appearance at the Cambridge Scottish Festival.

“It was really disheartening to find out that they were cancelling,” Kathryn Lecocq, a teacher with the Blair Scottish Country Dancers, said. “We were set to do two demonstrations on Saturday to showcase what Scottish country dancing is. We also had a booth set up where we could promote our dance group and the culture of Scottish country dancing.”

The Pipers and Pipe Band Society of Ontario was also supposed to take part. A representative said the festival is a key competition on the summer circuit for performers, and there were a record number of entries.

“This year we had 31 bands from all over Ontario, plus three from the U.S., entered and around 255 solo competitors with almost 500 entries,” Malkie Bow, Pipers and Pipe Band Society of Ontario president, said in an email to CTV News.

Volunteer shortage

The festival has told CTV News they did not have enough volunteers to hold the annual event, and said they were devastated by the decision.

“Knowing from last year that there were a lot of volunteers. But, as we know, times have changed,” Lecocq said. “Maybe people just don’t have the time, but I was kind of shocked that they couldn’t find enough volunteers.”

Lecocq said weather hasn’t been the greatest the past few years, and that could have contributed to why people aren’t volunteering. But the influence of Scottish culture in Cambridge has fluctuated in the past years as well.

“At the same time, we are seeing a little bit of a resurgence with more people being involved. We see it with the ceilidh’s. There are a lot of ceilidh’s happening, so hopefully that will continue and we can get more people involved,” Lecocq said.

The dancers will now turn their attention to a summer ceilidh, a traditional gathering featuring folk music, dancing and storytelling, at Victoria Park on Aug. 29.

Volunteer Waterloo Region is a group that connects volunteers and organizations.

They say the struggle to find people willing to donate their time is not unique to the Scottish festival.

“While there are still many people out there who are willing to help out and give back, many people are falling victim to increasing barriers to volunteering. This comes from rising costs of living, aging bodies, and lack of availability when it comes to engaging in the community,” Cameron Tai, a communication specialist for Volunteer Waterloo Region, said. “This trend rides on the back of a lack of investment in volunteering, as many believe that it ‘just happens,’ and ‘volunteers will always be there.’ This attitude frequently leads to situations like this where we lose key parts of cultural heritage and community spirit that bring out the best in the community here in the region.”

Although Tai said there is a dedicated group of people who consistently show up to help at events year after year, many people cannot do the same due to a variety of factors, such as aging.

“The younger, working age demographic that typically likes to engage in events are now working multiple jobs, and frequently have side jobs and businesses that will keep them occupied during event times,” he said.

However, he said they are seeing pockets of resurgence in volunteerism.

“We know that it is an uphill battle to recruit and retain volunteers these days, but we always implore everyone to get engaged, and that there are opportunities to help, and people willing to help, if you know where to look.”

Funding frustrations

Meanwhile, Cambridge Mayor Jan Liggett called the festival a “source of community pride” and said the cancellation is a loss for the city.

“The festival is closely connected to Cambridge’s history and our strong Scottish roots,” she said.

In April, the festival asked for $35,000 in funding from the city. Only $7,500 was approved.

Liggett said Councillor Adam Cooper was notified of the financial difficulties the event was facing, and began searching for other funding sources. Liggett said she also tried to arrange a special council meeting in hopes of approving more money through the city.

“However, time was not on our side,” she said.

Cambridge has a Municipal Accommodation Tax Fund (MAT) that can be used to support events, but council needs to grant approval before that money can be accessed.

“The MAT was intended to help address tourism funding needs, but the current policy is outdated and restrictive. I have long supported updating this framework and am now working with staff to determine when a review can be brought forward to Council for consideration,” Ligget told CTV News in a statement on Friday.