Ontario Boosting Tourism Through Festivals and Events

Pete Fisher
6 years ago
• Categories: Provincial

Support for Local Festivals and Events Creating Jobs, Building Vibrant Communities 

Ontario is supporting festivals and events in Northumberland to boost a growing tourism sector, create jobs and offer Ontario residents and tourists more reasons to discover and explore the province.

MPP Lou Rinaldi announced today that Brighton Applefest is receiving $14,375 in support through the Celebrate Ontario program.

This year, the province is supporting 328 festivals and events, the highest in the history of the program that celebrate Ontario’s diversity, heritage and culture. This investment will enhance programming, activities and services so that festivals and events can offer new experiences, reach new audiences and support jobs in their communities.

This year, 198 festivals and events receiving support will take place in rural or northern areas, and will showcase the diverse traditions that make these communities so unique.

Investing in festivals and events is part of Ontario’s plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change. The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.

 

QUOTES

“Our government’s continued support for festivals and events is an investment in the livelihood of communities all across Ontario. Festivals and events are powerful economic drivers and play an important role in bringing communities together. Our diverse events give visitors and Ontario residents a reason to visit, discover and experience the riches of this wonderful province.”

— Daiene Vernile, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport

 

“The support our government provides to festivals and events in Brighton through Celebrate Ontario is an investment in the entire community and a boost to our local economy. I am pleased to welcome visitors throughout the province and abroad to attend the event, take part in the festivities and share in our unique culture and heritage.”

— Lou Rinaldi, MPP, Northumberland-Quinte West

 

“We appreciate our provincial government and MPP Rinaldi’s continued support to our community through the Celebrate Ontario program.  With the addition of this grant, the Applefest Committee will be able to bring a headliner to its Friday evening concert on September 28^th.  The Applefest takes place from Thursday, September 27^th to Sunday, September 30^th.”

— Mark Walas, Mayor, Municipality of Brighton

 

“The Celebrate Ontario Grant reminds me how much we depend on the Provincial Governments continued generosity and local support to Brighton Applefest.  The Grant money will help the committee make Applefest a growing success. Thank you M.P.P Lou Rinaldi.”

• Christine Waterhouse, Applefest Chair

QUICK FACTS

• Ontario is investing more than $20 million in the Celebrate Ontario 2018 program to support 328 festivals and events, the highest number in the history of the program.
• Past recipients’ data shows that every $1 of Celebrate Ontario funding triggers $21 in visitor expenditures.
• Tourism is an important economic driver, supporting nearly 400,000 jobs and generating over $32 billion of economic activity.
• As part of the commitment made in Ontario’s Strategic Framework for Tourism and Tourism Action Plan, the government improved the Celebrate Ontario program to further streamline the application process, focus on results and improve alignment to better support communities across Ontario.