Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae has announced just shy of $500,000 to support local events and festivals.
A release states that just shy of $500,000 will be shared between 8 local events in the region. The funding is coming from the province's Reconnect Ontario program. The events receiving funding include Lights On Stratford, World in a Weekend, St. Marys Homecoming, Here For Now Theatre Company’s 2022 Season, the Listowel Agricultural Fair, Stratford Live Music and Food Presents: Under the Sun, New Beginnings: The 2022 Season and Stratford Symphony Unplugged.
The release states that "Ontario is also providing $5.2 million to events through the Celebrate Ontario Blockbuster Program, which supports municipalities and organizations in Ontario that host large-scale, high-impact signature events.
“Tourism is a key component of Perth-Wellington's economy,” says Rae. “Ensuring they have adequate resources will always be one of my top priorities. Many of our community events are returning this summer and offering an in-person experience again. It is wonderful to see eight local events across Perth-Wellington receive funding under the Reconnect Program.
"For nearly two years, the pandemic has disproportionately impacted tourism and culture – two major industries that bring our communities to life, and Ontarians together,” adds 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.”
Organization Name Event Name Funding Stratford Tourism Alliance Lights On Stratford $ 146,150 Stratford Summer Music World in a Weekend $ 52,540 The Town of St. Marys Homecoming – Heritage 2022 $ 9,139 Here For Now Theatre Company Here For Now Theatre Company’s 2022 Season $ 54,986 Listowel Agricultural Society Listowel Agricultural Fair $ 22,422 Stratford Blues and Ribfest Stratford Live Music and Food Presents: Under the Sun $ 8,880 Stratford Festival New Beginnings: The 2022 Season $ 185,000 Stratford Symphony Orchestra Stratford Symphony Unplugged $ 17,816 Total $ 496,933