Support for 24 Additional Events Will Create Jobs and Improve Local Tourism

Ontario is extending its support for festivals and events with over $2 million in funding to support jobs and boost local tourism across the province.

Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, was at the Toronto Caribbean Carnival today to announce a second round of funding for festivals and events through Celebrate Ontario 2019. The government is making this investment for 2019-20 in regions across the province:

West: $545,162
North: $80,103
East: $757,403
Central: $716,282

“Every dollar invested through Celebrate Ontario results in almost $21 of visitor spending,” said Minister MacLeod. “This year’s program received a strong response and we’re ensuring each budgeted dollar supports as many community festivals and events as possible.”

Support from Celebrate Ontario helps festival and event organizers enhance programming, activities and services so that festivals and events can offer new experiences, reach new audiences and support local jobs. Festivals and events help create and support jobs, grow the economy and offer Ontario residents and tourists another reason to explore our wonderful province.

QUICK FACTS
In total, Ontario is investing $17 million in the Celebrate Ontario 2019 program to support more than 270 festivals and events.

The Toronto Caribbean Carnival is receiving $250,000 through Celebrate Ontario 2019 to support a number of new initiatives, including an enhanced live concert at the King and Queen Show in Carnival Village.

Tourism is an important economic driver, supporting more than 390,000 jobs and generating over $34 billion of economic activity in Ontario.

Since 2014, the province’s tourism sector has experienced year-on-year increases in tourism receipts of over six percent.