Ontario Supporting Over 250 Local Festivals and Events

 Celebrate Ontario Program Creates Jobs and Supports Local Tourism 

UXBRIDGE, ON – Today, MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy, joined by Mayor Dave Barton at the Township of Uxbridge, announced funding for various organizations through Celebrate Ontario. Celebrate Ontario supports festivals in Uxbridge, such as the Uxbridge Scottish Festival and HITS FEST. 

“Through Celebrate Ontario, our government is investing in Uxbridge’s tourism industry, supporting local jobs and highlighting our community’s unique and rich cultural heritage”, said MPP Bethlenfalvy. “This funding demonstrates a clear return on investment, respect for taxpayer dollars, and a focus on increasing tourism in Uxbridge and across the province.” 

Successful funding recipients within the riding of Pickering-Uxbridge include: 

  • The Uxbridge Scottish Festival ($3,1813) 
  • HITS FEST ($3,727) 
  • The Uxbridge Holiday Festival ($36,056) 

Celebrate Ontario supports local festivals and events of all sizes to reach new audiences, improve the programs for visitors, benefit local economies, and create new jobs. Every dollar invested through Celebrate Ontario results in almost $21 of visitor spending. 

“Ontario is open for business and open for jobs. By investing in festivals and events, our government is tapping into the economic potential of the tourism industry,” said Minister Tibollo. “As we develop Ontario’s new tourism strategy, we will continue to invest in programs like Celebrate Ontario that help to maximize the growth and competitiveness of the great festivals and events that take place throughout the province.” 

Ontario’s government for the people is working to create jobs and drive local tourism by investing more than $13 million in over 250 festivals and events in communities across the province, with an additional $4 million in funding for Blockbuster events. 

The Celebrate Ontario Blockbuster category encourages the attraction and hosting of major one-time, or infrequently recurring, national and international events in Ontario. 

QUICK FACTS 

  • The government will invest approximately $40,000 in the Telling Tales Festival as a part of the Celebrate Ontario program. 
  • Tourism supports nearly 390,000 jobs and generates over $34 billion of economic activity in Ontario. 
  • The tourism industry is one of the world’s fastest-growing industries. 
  • The province’s tourism sector has experienced year-on-year increases in visitor spending of nearly six per cent. 

 

MORE INFORMATION: 

 

Aleem Sufi 

Office of Peter Bethlenfalvy 

MPP, Pickering – Uxbridge 

aleem.sufi@pc.ola.org