MPP Rae Announces Funding for Local Festivals and Events
Matthew Rae, MPP for Perth-Wellington, announced that the Government of Ontario will be providing over $496,000 to cultural, tourist and agricultural organizations in the area.
“Tourism is a key component of Perth-Wellington’s economy,” said 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,” said 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.”
Reconnect Ontario is a provincial grant program that supports festivals and events that encourage local tourism and motivate visitors to rediscover Ontario, while reconnecting people with local experiences and increasing tourism spending. The program is receiving $42.9 million in 2022 to support 547 festivals and events around the province.
Ontario is also providing $5.2 million to events through the Celebrate Ontario Blockbuster Program. The Reconnect Ontario – Marquee Event Fund (formerly the Celebrate Ontario Blockbuster program) supports municipalities and organizations in Ontario that host large-scale, high-impact signature events.
“It is great to see such a vital sector in our riding receive this support from our government,” Rae added. “I know this funding will go to good use and be integral to supporting these events as they recover from the past two years.”
| 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 |