Ontario Boosting Tourism Through Festivals and Events

Pete Fisher
7 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 Cultivate: A festival of Food and Drink is receiving $31,031 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 Port Hope through Celebrate Ontario is an investment in our community and a boost to our local economy. I am pleased to welcome visitors from within the province and abroad to attend an event, take part in the festivities and share in our unique culture and heritage.”

— Lou Rinaldi, MPP, Northumberland-Quinte West

 

“The Municipality is thrilled that Cultivate: A Festival of Food and Drink, is the recipient of this generous funding from the Provincial government.  Cultural and community events like Cultivate not only bring our own community together, but attract visitors to the area, highlighting our exceptional Municipality and Northumberland County at large.”

— Bob Sanderson, Mayor, Municipality of Port Hope

 

“Celebrate Ontario’s investment in Cultivate enables us to celebrate and promote the abundance of local food, drink, art and culture that is made here in Northumberland County.  Our community festival aims to enhance culinary tourism in the region as well as bring together local residents to enjoy the unique tastes that our farmers, brewmasters and artists have to offer.  This year, with the support from the Province of Ontario, we will be able to enhance our festival to include an additional 3 weekends, which will include cross-county collaborations with local partners.  Cultivate is an amazing way to celebrate our community and the harvest season.  We look forward to seeing you in September!”

— Nicole Beatty CFRE, Executive Director, Local Food for Local Good

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.