NEWS RELEASE
MPP JILL DUNLOP
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MPP Jill Dunlop was proud to join with the Mariposa Folk Foundation to congratulate them on their 2019 Celebrate Ontario Grant. Their Folk Festival, which takes place annually in the City of Orillia, is one of three events in Simcoe North to receive funds from this Grant.
Dunlop, the Member of Provincial Parliament for Simcoe North, announced today that the following festivals and events in Simcoe North are receiving support through the Celebrate Ontario program:
- $100,000 for the Mariposa Folk Festival in Orillia.
- $8,222 for the 9th Annual Coldwater Steampunk Festival.
- $57,450 for the Tall Ships Challenge Ontario Festival in Midland.
Celebrate Ontario supports festivals and events of all sizes to reach new audiences, improve the programs for visitors, benefit local economies, and create new jobs. According to past recipients, every dollar invested through Celebrate Ontario results in almost $21 of visitor spending.
“All year round, the tourism and the cultural sector employs hundreds of people from Simcoe North and brings good investment from elsewhere in the province” said MPP Dunlop. “This announcement ensures that the doors of Simcoe North remain open to visitors from across Ontario and the world.”
Ontario is investing over $13 million in over 250 festivals and events in communities across the province, plus another $4 million in additional funding for Blockbuster events.
“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 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.”
This year, to help reduce red tape and the administrative burden for organizers, Ontario has streamlined the application process to make it easier to apply for funding.
“Our Government recognizes the important contributions that festivals and events make to Simcoe North’s economy. I am pleased that we are supporting these three events as it continues to draw visitors from across the province and provides a positive impact to our community,” noted Dunlop.
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