Line Spike Frontenac - Update on Dispute Between Organiser and Township

Jemma Dooreleyers and Jeff Green | Jun 28, 2025

Line Spike Frontenac Founder and learn organiser Jeremy Campbell, posted an emotional statement on Facebook on Thursday (June 26) about a last minute decision by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) to revoke the festival's liquor license.
The AGCO had been informed that morning that South Frontenac Council had rescinded their motion of June 10, which attributed “Significant Event” status on Line Spike, The AGCO requires that municipal status in order to grant the license.
Frontenac News caught up with Campbell on Friday evening, while he was completing preparations for the weekend, to discuss why this had happened.
Campbell said that he asked the township for a “Significant Event” designation on March 19, but due to multiple setbacks, and the first South Frontenac Council meeting of June getting postponed for one week,, the matter did not get to Council until 10th of June.
At that meeting, Council unanimously approved the motion, as reported in The Frontenac News, declaring Line Spike, and Line Spike applied for a license from the AGCO later that week and were approved.
According to township sources, before approving the motion on June 10, the township was given assurances, by Campbell, that South Frontenac Fire, the OPP, and Frontenac Paramedics, would be contracted to be on site at Line Spike.
They had insisted on these agencies be involved in order to ensure safety for what was to be the largest public event in the history of the township.
However, after June 10th the arrangements with the three agencies and Line Spike were either cancelled or remained unconfirmed.
Campbell told the News last week that it is not a requirement for emergency services to be on the property, in order for the event to be licensed.
He cited budget constraints due to liquor vendors pulling out of the event, because of the delay in obtaining a license.
After the township and Jeremy Campbell could not come to an agreement about emergency services for Line Spike on Monday and Tuesday, June 23 and 24,
South Frontenac Council met in an emergency meeting last Wednesday, June 25. After an in camera discussion, they passed a motion rescinding the significant event designation.
Campbell has made several statements about the matter since then.
In addition to Facebook posts and an interview with the Frontenac News, he said, in an article that was published on June 28 by the Whig,com, and then updated with further details on June 29th, that after he had signed a contract for paramedic services, for under $5,000, he was told the cost had jumped up to almost $15,000.
He then told the Whig, that South Frontenac Chief Administrative Officer Louise Fragnito “refused to accept the contract”.
When contracted by the News, Louise Fragnito said that the township would release a response and did not want to say anything further. She did point out, however, that Frontenac Paramedic Services is run by Frontenac County and as CAO of South Frontenac she has no involvement in their operations or contracts they enter into.
He also told the Frontenac News that the township has been difficult to deal with all.
Although Campbell was disappointed and anxious about what might happen if there was unregulated alcohol consumption at the event, he said that he hoped that the rocky start would not put a damper on the weekend.
"This event is about positivity and coming together as Canadians to celebrate Canada, " he said. "I don't want anyone else to shoulder this, I just want people to have a good time."
“This has been a long time in the making and a lot of great people have put a lot of free labour into bringing you some of Canada's finest recording artists. We've had to pivot and change a lot of things at the very last minute - so please bear with us if this isn't the smoothest running operation you've ever experienced in your life... but it will be a LOT of fun,” he added.
On the first day of the festival, ticketholders were informed they could bring beer and wine in with them, in non-glass containers, but were told they could not bring in water, in order to encourage water sales for the festival to recoup some funds. According to reports, this led to some awkward, but good natured exchanges at the entrance to the event.
One attendee said she had to open her water bottle to prove it was full of wine, when entering. All those involved has a laugh