Ontario Supporting Festival Event in Whitby
Funding will help reconnect community and boost Whitby’s economy
Whitby – Ontario is investing more than $48 million to help festival and event organizers carry out innovative and safe experiences that help create great Ontario staycation experiences for visitors and stimulate local economic growth. Funding from the Reconnect Ontario program will support events in Whitby and enable recipient organizations to expand programming to draw visitors who will stay longer in local accommodations, eat in restaurants, shop at local retailers and support main street businesses.
“For nearly two years, the pandemic has disproportionately impacted tourism and culture – two major industries that bring our communities to life, and Ontarians together,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “By supporting festivals and events through the Reconnect Ontario program, our government is delivering a much-needed boost to the sector as we continue to recover from the effects of COVID-19. We are supporting organizations across the province that are finding new, innovative ways to safely reconnect Ontarians – helping them to engage with their communities and creating local jobs.”
Lorne Coe, MPP for Whitby and Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier announced today that the following local event is receiving funding support:
Reconnect Ontario is a provincial grant program that supports festivals and events that encourage local tourism and motivate visitors to rediscover Ontario, while reconnecting people with local experiences and increasing tourism spending. The program is receiving $42.9 million in 2022 to support 547 festivals and events around the province.
“Our government recognizes the important contributions that festivals and events make to local communities,” said Lorne Coe, MPP for Whitby and Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier. “I am pleased that we are supporting event organizers right here at home in creating safe, innovative experiences that will help reconnect people while boosting our local economy and creating local jobs.”
“On behalf of our Council and residents, I would like to thank MPP Coe and the Government of Ontario for their financial support of our Whitby Lights the Night and Holiday Festival. We look forward to celebrating the holiday season with our residents through fun lighting displays, community events, and walkable, drivable, virtual experiences.” said Whitby Mayor, Don Mitchell.
Ontario is also providing $5.2 million to events through the Celebrate Ontario Blockbuster Program and to Luminato. The Reconnect Ontario – Marquee Event Fund (formally the Celebrate Ontario Blockbuster program) supports municipalities and organizations in Ontario that host large-scale, high-impact signature events.
QUICK FACTS
- the government provided a historic $49 million through the Reconnect Festival and Event Program (now Reconnect Ontario) and the Reconnect Ontario – Marquee Event Fund (fomally Celebrate Ontario Blockbuster).