MPP Rae Announces Tourism Funding
[Stratford, ON] – Today, Matthew Rae, MPP for Perth-Wellington announced that local organizations would be receiving $235,000 in funding through the Experience Ontario Grant program. This funding will support festivals and events across the province that create jobs, attract visitors, and support economic development in our local communities.
“Our tourism industry employs a lot of people and provides many good-paying jobs locally,” Rae said. “Our government will continue to support this vital sector as it emerges and rebuilds from the pandemic years. I encourage everyone to explore the many festivals, theatres, and events that occur year-round in Perth-Wellington.”
Experience Ontario is a provincial grant program that supports festivals and events that encourage Ontarians and visitors alike to explore local communities and discover all that they have to offer.
Tourism makes significant contributions to Ontario’s economy, supporting approximately 360,000 jobs and generating over $35 billion of economic activity.
“Festivals and events enrich the lives of Ontarians and strengthen local economies,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “I am proud that our government is supporting festival and event organizers through the Experience Ontario 2024 program, helping them to create unique local experiences that will attract visitors, create jobs and promote economic development.”
“The Stratford Festival has planned an ambitious season for 2024, one that will generate a great deal of tourism activity in Stratford and the surrounding area,” Stratford Festival’s Executive Director, Anita Gaffney said. “We gratefully acknowledge that government funding such as this helps us to strengthen our impact on the community. The most recent study pegs the Stratford Festival’s economic impact at an extraordinary $276.7 million. We support roughly $22.1 million in taxes to the province of Ontario and generate 1,466 full-time-equivalent jobs, with salaries and wages estimated at $121.7 million. We thank Experience Ontario for helping us to achieve our goals.”
This program, originally established in 2007 as Celebrate Ontario, has invested more than $284 million in over 3,600 Ontario festivals and events.
Funding as provided by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport:
| Organization | Project | Experience Ontario Funding |
| Stratford Tourism Alliance | Lights On Stratford Winter Festival | $55,000 |
| Here For Now Theatre | Here For Now Theatre’s 2024 Season | $55,000 |
| Stratford Festival | 2024 Season: Around the Corner, A World Away | $125,000 |
| Total | | $235,000 |