Council votes in favour of Vancouver festival support fund

Crowds gather on Fraser Street for the Vancouver Vaisakhi Festival and Parade on Saturday, April 12, 2025. (Jim Fong / CTV News)

Vancouver city council has voted unanimously in favour of a motion to create a dedicated festival support fund to help struggling public events in the city stay afloat.

The motion was presented at Wednesday’s council meeting by Vancouver councillor and mayoral candidate Pete Fry.

It cited the economic, cultural and community-building impacts of festivals, many of which have had to scale back or be called off altogether in recent years.

The fund would provide stable, transparent and multi-year financial assistance to qualifying events, in an attempt to move away from ad-hoc emergency funding, the motion said.

Earlier this year, council approved $2 million for a one-night fireworks display in August, after the Celebration of Light was cancelled indefinitely. Vancouver Car Free Day events were also cancelled this year, until council approved $30,000 in funding to save them.

Fry also noted that the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Vancouver Pride and Khatsalano festival were reporting significant financial strain.

Rising costs, loss of sponsors and declining government support are all being blamed for the financial challenges organizers are facing.

An amendment to the motion by councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung requested that the mayor advocate for the restoration and expansion of federal funding programs supporting major events.

Grant approved for Vaisakhi Parade

Another motion asking for a one-time grant of up to $45,000 for the Vancouver Vaisakhi Parade and Festival also passed unanimously.

The motion, presented at Wednesday’s council meeting by Mayor Ken Sim and Coun. Mike Klassen, cited a budget shortfall, despite cost-reduction measures by organizers.

A number of community members also spoke in support of the motion, remarking on the importance of sharing Sikh culture and values at a time of increasing anti-immigrant sentiments.

The Vancouver Vaisakhi Parade is one of the largest single-day festivals in the city, attracting up to 250,000 people every year. The free community event has been held annually since 1979, with a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic.