Two North Bay events, and others in surrounding communities, will benefit from provincial funding aimed at helping festival and event organizers deliver innovative and safe experiences that allow people to safely reconnect with their communities.
Capitol Centre's Bluesfest gets $24,377 and Carnaval des Compagnons 2022 will receive $21,000.
See: Capitol Centre announces the return of Bluesfest
“For more than a year, the pandemic has disproportionately impacted tourism and culture – two major industries that bring people together and our communities to life,” said Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, “Increasing our annual support for festival and events will give the sector a much-needed boost as we continue to deal with the effects of COVID-19..”
The government is providing $43 million to support 439 festivals and events through the Reconnect Festival and Event Program.
The Reconnect program, known as Celebrate Ontario prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, was developed to help festival and event organizers adapt to new public health measures with virtual, drive-through and other safe offerings.
North Bay has had a rocky relationship with the program in the past, often being ignored in the funding.
See: Applications open for Celebrate Ontario. Could this be North Bay's year?
This year Sudbury received $239,100 for four events compared to $45,377 for two North Bay events.
Other area events receiving funding include:
- Smoke 'N' Spurs Festival, Powassan, $93,000
- Staycation In Almaguin, Armour, $18,800
- Dinner and a Movie Series Magnetawan $6,000
- Festival of the Arts 2021/22, Huntsville, $140,000
- SnowFest, Huntsville, $54,575
- Muskoka Winter Lights, Huntsville, $145,757
- 42nd Annual Festival of the Sound, Parry Sound, $172,000
See the complete list of events here.
“Festivals and events make important contributions to communities like ours, creating local jobs and boosting the local economy,” said MPP Vic Fedeli in a news release.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, every $1 of provincial funding invested through Celebrate Ontario (the model for the Reconnect program) resulted in almost $21 of visitor spending says a news release.
Reconnect Festival and Event Program funding may be used for eligible expenses such as programming and production, marketing, mobile applications and website development, and making sure health and safety measures are put in place to keep audiences safe.
