Tourism festivals and events expand offerings in southern Ontario

Beaches International Jazz Festival Society

The Beaches International Jazz Festival Society is expanding its Beaches Jazz Concert Series in cities across southern Ontario from February through to December 2024, featuring Canadian artists who present a variety of musical tribute performances. This project will draw new visitors to the performances, attract repeat attendees, grow the organization's following and support future festivals.

$112,500

Chippewas of the Thames First Nation

The Chippewas of the Thames First Nation delivered the "Never Ever Forget Me" Residential Survivors Gala in March 2024. This first-time event brought together nearly 300 Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members and survivors of Mount Elgin Residential School to heal and learn about the impact that occurred from Residential Schools and specifically the Mount Elgin Residential School Institute. This was done through the telling of survivors' stories, healing workshops, guest speakers and strengthening their spirits through Indigenous music.

$56,000

Cultivate Community

Cultivate Community extended its second Annual Hibernate Festival, which took place in February 2024, by adding a fourth day featuring local musicians and artists and headlining acts. Cultivate Community also delivered participatory arts workshops and programming for young families. The project attracted visitors to enjoy the Port Hope area in the shoulder season.

$30,000

Destination Stratford

Destination Stratford is enhancing the fifth annual Lights On Stratford Winter Festival, taking place from December 2024 to January 2025 in addition to pop-up programming during the year. This investment will enable the purchase of equipment and light art installations to support the sustainability and longevity of the festival and its pursuit of a vibrant and year-round visitor economy.

$200,000

Downtown Kitchener Business Improvement Area

The Downtown Kitchener Business Improvement Area (DTK BIA) created a new off-season festival, which took place in February and March 2024, named "The Traveler's Tour." The event showcased the cultures and diversity of the Downtown Kitchener BIA district by engaging with restaurants to celebrate their offerings, bringing new visitors to Kitchener. As part of the project, DTK BIA created free weekly events to enjoy the sounds and tastes of different cultures along with the Kitchener Public Library.

$125,000

Heroes 4 Wildlife Inc.

Heroes 4 Wildlife will deliver the "WILD Ontario: An Environmental Awareness Festival," a new multi-day event in up to three locations (Oshawa, Clarington, and Cobourg) in October and November 2024 and February 2025.

$150,000

Muséoparc Vanier

Muséoparc Vanier enhanced its free offerings at the 39th Annual Maple Syrup Festival, an annual event that showcases maple syrup culture, local Franco-Ontarian and Indigenous artists. The Festival took place in March 2024 and reached nearly 10,000 people of all ages during its week of gourmet, musical and cultural festivities.

$50,000

Neruda Arts

Neruda Arts hosted the SHE-Creates festival, in March 2024, to highlight and celebrate women, focusing on racialized women and newcomers. With the investment, Neruda Arts added additional programming, enhanced marketing for the event and attracted visitors to a rural area of Waterloo Region.

$30,000

Ontario Culture Days

Ontario Culture Days will test an events framework in select hub cities across southern Ontario during Culture Days, which will take place in September and October 2024. These locations will offer specialized programming, increased amenities for incoming visitors, and provide information about Culture Days events and attractions in the surrounding communities. These will serve as anchor events to support future growth and sustainability of the festival across the province.

$200,000

Richmond Hill Board of Trade

The Richmond Hill Board of Trade launched the "Richmond Hill Swing Into Spring Festival" in May 2024. This festival showcased local businesses and the town's cultural diversity to attract visitors to the area.

$25,000

Somerset Street Chinatown Business Improvement Area

The Somerset Street Chinatown Business Improvement Area hosted the return of the Lunar Parade, the Chinatown Night Market, and plans to host the Ottawa Chinatown Lantern Festival. The project included enhancements, such as the installation of culturally distinctive statues and the completion of multiple power access points for future special events.

$250,000

Talk Is Free Theatre

Talk is Free Theatre created three culturally focused productions in the off-and-shoulder seasons in Barrie between the fall 2023 and spring 2024. As a result, new and diverse demographics of cultural tourists came to the Barrie area and provided spin-off benefits to tourism and related businesses in the off-season.

$75,000