Burlington gets $125K provincial grant for ‘the largest free music festival in Canada'
Burlington's Sound of Music Festival will receive $125,000 from Ontario's Ministry of Tourism Culture and Gaming.
The financial injection doesn't end there, as City of Burlington staff recommend a loan of up to $225,000 for this year's event,
set to go June 12 to 15
.
The loan would be in addition to an already planned $150,00 city grant to the festival.
Sound of Music board chair Dave Shepherd said the provincial grant from the Experience Ontario 2025 program helps 'keep the festival moving forward as the largest free music festival in Canada.'
Shepherd said grant funding is typically used for general festival operations — including permits, down payments for artists, and insurance.
'There are so many fixed costs that are not often thought of, that we need to pay for before the festival happens,' he said.
Shepherd said the anticipated provincial grant was included in the Sound of Music's draft budget for this year.
He said the festival also recently applied for Heritage Canada grant funding, for next year's event.
An official announcement of the $125,000 provincial tourism grant from Burlington MPP Natalie Pierre's office states $20 million is being invested in festivals and events across Ontario to help organizers 'draw visitors to stay longer in local accommodations, eat in restaurants, shop at local retailers and support main street businesses.'
Pierre stated in a press release that supporting the Sound of Music Festival means investing in national, provincial and local talent, boosting tourism and strengthening community pride.
In a report to the May 12 committee of the whole meeting, staff state the city provided $415,000 in aid to the Sound of Music last year, including a $125,000 loan.
'Despite efforts to stay financially sustainable, challenges persist in maintaining a large-scale free event,' the report states.
Late last year,
a private donor provided $200,000 to the city
, which was applied to the festival's debt owed to the city — reducing it to $20,000.
'Due to the need to cover entertainment and supplier contract expenses in advance of the event, the (festival board) is requesting a loan of $225,000 from the city,' the staff report states. '(The festival) has agreed to repay the loan following the festival, including the small remaining balance of $20,000 from prior 2024 debt.'
The recommended $225,000 loan is in addition to a previously planned $150,000 grant from the city for this year's event.
Earlier this year, the festival and city signed an agreement stating debt remaining after this year's festival must be paid back by Sept. 1, 2025 and festival organizers must submit a business plan for the 2026 festival by June 1 this year.
For more information and entertainment schedules visit
the Sound of Music website
.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
CSGS Q1 Earnings Call: Management Highlights Diversification and Margin Expansion
Customer experience software company CSG Systems (NASDAQ:CSGS) reported Q1 CY2025 results beating Wall Street's revenue expectations , with sales up 1.5% year on year to $299.5 million. The company's full-year revenue guidance of $1.23 billion at the midpoint came in 8.1% above analysts' estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $1.14 per share was 12% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy CSGS? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $299.5 million vs analyst estimates of $295.2 million (1.5% year-on-year growth, 1.4% beat) Adjusted EPS: $1.14 vs analyst estimates of $1.02 (12% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $64.34 million vs analyst estimates of $59.35 million (21.5% margin, 8.4% beat) The company reconfirmed its revenue guidance for the full year of $1.23 billion at the midpoint Management raised its full-year Adjusted EPS guidance to $4.78 at the midpoint, a 2.1% increase EBITDA guidance for the full year is $263.5 million at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $265 million Operating Margin: 9.8%, in line with the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $1.79 billion CSG's first quarter results reflected the company's ongoing shift toward higher-margin SaaS solutions and expanded presence in non-telecom verticals. Management noted that 33% of revenue now comes from industries outside of cable and telecom, up from 30% a year ago, which CEO Brian Shepherd described as a record for the company. Shepherd emphasized customer wins in areas like payments, healthcare, and transportation, citing extensions with Mediacom and Liberty Latin America and a new deal with the North Texas Tolling Authority as contributors to growth. These developments, alongside improved operating discipline and cost efficiencies, drove the improvement in non-GAAP operating margin compared to the prior year. Looking forward, CSG's guidance for the remainder of the year rests on continued momentum in SaaS and recurring revenue streams, as well as disciplined cost management. Management stated that margin expansion will be fueled by a mix shift toward higher-margin SaaS deals and ongoing process improvements, with CFO Hai Tran projecting a clear path to achieve non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA margins above 25% in the coming years. Shepherd added, 'We absolutely believe there's a clear pathway for CSG to achieve at or above the upper end of our 18% to 20% non-GAAP adjusted operating margin over the next several years,' and highlighted that revenue visibility remains high due to the mission-critical nature of CSG's solutions. Management attributed the quarter's performance to expanding into new industry verticals, a growing SaaS revenue mix, and focused cost optimization measures. Revenue diversification progress: CSG increased its share of revenue from non-cable and non-telecom verticals to 33%, with notable wins in healthcare, financial services, and transportation. This broadening of customer base is reducing reliance on legacy telecom clients. Large customer concentration declines: The top two customers, Charter and Comcast, now comprise 37% of total revenue, down significantly from 49% in 2017. Shepherd clarified that this is not due to declining revenue from those clients, but rather faster growth in other business areas. SaaS margin expansion: Higher-margin SaaS product sales are driving company-wide operating leverage. CFO Hai Tran pointed to improved procurement, increased productivity, and process reengineering as key contributors to better margins. Payments business momentum: The payments division expanded its merchant base by 13% year-over-year, reaching 135,000 merchants in the quarter, supporting both revenue growth and further diversification. Cash flow improvement: Non-GAAP adjusted free cash flow marked its strongest first quarter result since 2018, attributed to margin gains, improved working capital, and disciplined vendor management. Management expects continued double-digit free cash flow growth as profitability scales. CSG expects continued growth driven by SaaS adoption, recurring revenues from diversified verticals, and further operating efficiency gains. Broadening industry exposure: Management expects further expansion into industries like healthcare, payments, and transportation to drive both top-line growth and reduced revenue concentration risk. This is supported by recent contract wins and ongoing initiatives to address complex customer needs in these sectors. Margin expansion initiatives: The company plans to maintain or improve non-GAAP operating margins through a mix of cost discipline, greater SaaS penetration, and a shift to more asset-light operations. Shepherd pointed to continuous process optimization and targeted R&D investment as foundations for achieving margin targets. Disciplined M&A approach: Management signaled ongoing interest in acquisitions that complement CSG's domain expertise in monetization and customer engagement, but stressed a commitment to only pursuing highly accretive, value-adding deals. The company's strong balance sheet and new revolving credit facility provide flexibility for such opportunities. In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will be watching (1) the pace and scale of new customer wins outside of cable and telecom, (2) the degree to which SaaS solutions and payments drive further margin expansion, and (3) management's execution on disciplined M&A to support diversification. Sustained free cash flow improvement and reduced customer concentration will also be important indicators of long-term progress. CSG currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 13.6×. Should you double down or take your chips? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs. While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
Eater
2 days ago
- Eater
A Former Church Garage Gives Way to a Wine and Cocktail Bar in Detroit's East Village
Father Forgive Me, for I am about to spend an ungodly amount of summer (and money) at Detroit's newest cocktail and wine bar. After just one pilgrimage, it already feels like a sacred ritual. The garage doors of the former church garage-turned-bar officially reopened to the public on Saturday, June 7. Father Forgive Me, a new cocktail and wine bar from the hospitality group behind Standby, Deluxx Fluxx, and the Skip, is located in the former garage of the Shepherd Detroit. The bar is part of the Library Street Collective's Little Village campus, which spans 3.5 acres in Detroit's East Village neighborhood. The campus also includes the Shepherd, Charles McGee Legacy Park, a skate park designed by artist McArthur Binion and skating legend (and sometimes Detroiter) Tony Hawk, a bed and breakfast called ALEO (named for the angel, lion, eagle and ox depicted in Pewabic tiles on the former church's altar) and the Lantern building, a redevelopment down the street that also houses the relocated Cøllect beer bar. The Romanesque-style church dates back to 1911 and was in operation until 2016, meaning the property was in relatively good condition when acquired by Library Street Collective founders Anthony and JJ Curis. Architecture firm Peterson Rich Office and Holly Jonsson Studio redesigned the space. Walking up the gravel entrance to the campus, guests are guided to an outdoor patio that wraps around Father Forgive Me, with a variety of relaxed seating options, including benches made from local white oak trees surrounding a fire pit. Inside, the oak bar and custom millwork done by Surfing Cowboy Studio glow under daylight and transition to the soft hue of small oil lamps as evening approaches. Full table service is available in the bar's outdoor and indoor spaces, and on busier days, a horse trailer near the back of the building opens to serve draft wine and cocktails for guests looking to roam the gravel and grass areas with drinks in hand. However, alcohol is not permitted at the adjoining skate park. Directly across from the Shepherd and Father Forgive Me, two residential homes have been transformed into commercial spaces by Detroit-based design firm Undecorated. One will soon house the new location of Warda Pâtisserie, run by James Beard Award-winning chef Warda Bouguettaya. Warda is also behind some of the bar snacks at Father Forgive Me. The snacks menu at the bar includes a twisty French pastry called sacristan (which literally means a person in charge of church ceremonial equipment — a subtle wink to the location), sliced Mother Loaf baguette topped with Brie, ham, and jams, and a mortadella sandwich made on crispy, salty focaccia from Rising Stars Academy. Bartender and owner Joe Robinson's a little rusty when it comes to wines, having spent most of his career in the cocktail world, which is why he brought in beverage director Dan Reinisch, previously of SheWolf Pastificio & Bar, to lead the wine program. Wines will rotate, but right now the prices range from $12 to $15 by the glass and $45 to $125 by the bottle, with offerings from Italy, Croatia, California, Portugal, Germany, Oregon, and France. 'I love a lot of the super classic, more buttoned-up, structured wines — the ones where the tannins and acid have punch and purpose alongside food,' Reinisch says. 'But these are all meant to be drinkable on their own, and obviously they pair with food, but there's an important kind of yumminess that needs to exist with them on their own.' He continues: 'We're aiming for approachable flavors that might come from a place you've never heard of, or be made from a grape you can't pronounce, but when it hits your nose and palate, it should still feel comfortable.' General Manager Ryan Sparks, formerly Supergeil and Two James, and Robinson have been working on a cocktail menu that shares an ethos with the artwork, as well as throughout the grounds of the Shepherd. The beverages are meant to hit all of the notes for everyone with prices ranging from $12 to $16 and flavors from sweet and refreshing to spirit-forward. Each drink highlights an interesting component that invokes conversation; for the Magnolia Martini, all the blooms come from Sparks' backyard magnolia tree and are pickled to produce vinegar he made for the martini. The cocktail and wine bar is a hyperlocal hub powered by a crew of beverage nerds who live and breathe cocktails, wine, food, and craft. The experience begins close and personal like being let in on a secret. But when those good Detroit summer days hit, the energy spills out across the grounds of the Shepherd, weaving through the art-filled halls and garden, open-air walkways, and gathering spots across the campus. 'Some drinks also highlight local, in-season produce — like our rhubarb milk punch, made with rhubarb from Joe at Lone Light Spirits in Ferndale. We're working with local makers and artisans whenever we can,' Sparks says. In addition to cocktails, the bar team at Father Forgive Me is also offering seven to 10 nonalcoholic drinks, including a rosé that's served on draft and utilizes watermelon rinds, over-steeped tea, and a centrifuged strawberry broth. 'It's important to me, I'm almost three years alcohol-free, which as a bar manager is an interesting place to be,' Sparks adds. 'I'll still taste spirits and I love the educational aspect, but I also love doing this job, and I want to do it for a long time.' Father Forgive Me is located at 1265 Parkview St. in Detroit , open 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 4 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Friday; noon to 12:30 a.m. Saturday; and noon to 11 p.m. Sunday. Sign up for our newsletter.
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Everything you need to know about Burlington's huge, free Sound of Music Festival June 12-15
The 2025 edition of the free annual Burlington Sound of Music Festival runs June 12 to 15 in Spencer Smith Park and other locations in downtown Burlington. Here's what you need to know about this year's event, and how to learn more. There are 56 performances scheduled on three stages over four days , with headliners including Junkhouse, Big Wreck, David Wilcox, Steven Page, Tebey. For full information on this year's Sound of Music Festival and related events, including the midway and a complete schedule of performances, go to the festival website . The annual parade is scheduled for Saturday, June 14 starting at 11 a.m., outside the Royal Canadian Legion on Legion Road and Grahams Lane, proceeding east to Brant Street, then south on Brant, ending at the corner of Brant and Elgin Street. For more information, including a parade route map, check the parade page on the Sound of Music website . Burlington Economic Development and Tourism is increasing data collection efforts for this year's festival. Executive director Anita Cassidy said representatives will be on site throughout Sound of Music conducting surveys to gather visitor insights and better understand spending patterns. A summer marketing campaign includes digital advertising on GO Trains and in Toronto's Union Station encouraging visitors to take transit to the Sound of Music and other Burlington summer events. 'Tracking and reporting on the economic impact of festivals and events is a growing priority for us,' Cassidy said. 'We're working closely with the City of Burlington, festival organizers, and industry partners to develop a more comprehensive approach to measuring impact — particularly in terms of overnight stays, local spending, and business activity.' Data on local hotel room bookings is expected after the festival. Burlington Centre mall, First Student Canada and Sound of Music Festival have partnered to make festival parking easier . Park at Burlington Centre's parking lot, in the designated area off Fairview Street in front of the vacant Hudson's Bay store. Shuttle service will be available from Burlington Centre to Spencer Smith Park at Lakeshore Road and Elizabeth Street. Three buses are scheduled to run a continuous loop each day between downtown and the mall parking lot, during set hours. The service is free, but donations are welcome. Many visitors will find the free parking and shuttles particularly helpful with several road closures supporting the festival and related events, including the Grand Parade. The City of Burlington issued a statement summarizing road closures and impacts on parking and transit. Parade route streets will reopen as soon as possible after the parade on June 14. Vehicles parked illegally in the event area will be tagged or towed for emergency access. Lakeshore Road, from Elizabeth Street to Maple Avenue, will close June 13 to June 15 from 10 p.m. to midnight; and June 16 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, June 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the following streets are closed: Brant Street from Graham Lane to Lakeshore Road Elgin Street from Brant St to Locust Street Temporary parking restrictions will be posted to ensure clearance for emergency vehicle access and traffic flow. All parking restrictions will be enforced. Bus route detours in effect for Route 2 during the parade. Route 10, late-night route 50 and HSR route 11 will be on detours during the nightly closures. For detailed stop closures and real-time bus information please visit . Minor delays in the downtown core should be expected on all festival dates. Event Liaison, City of Burlington, 905-335-7777 , ext. 7704
