GROWING TOURISM IN WATERLOO REGION

Ontario Government Supporting Festivals And Events In Local Communities

Waterloo Region - Ontario is helping enhance and improve the Kitchener Blues Festival, the Cambridge Highland Games, and IMPACT 09 in order to attract more visitors to Waterloo region. In addition, the government is supporting Quantum to Cosmos, a week-long festival being hosted by the Perimeter Institute this October that will draw visitors to the region from across the Globe.

In total, the province is investing $396,720 to support the enhancement of these four festivals which will help to boost the local economy by attracting new audiences and generating more economic activity in the community. The funding includes:

• $53,925 for the Kitchener Blues Festival

• $16,545 for the Cambridge Highland Games

• $26,250 for IMPACT 09

• $300,000 for Quantum to Cosmos

This is part of the Celebrate Ontario 2009 program, which is providing $11 million to 224 festivals and events across Ontario – an increase of 150 per cent over last year.

Celebrate Ontario 2009 was originally announced as a $9 million program. However, in recognition of the significant impact that these community events have on local economies, the government has decided to invest an additional $2 million in this year’s program to help make this impact felt in more communities across the province.

“This announcement is great news for not only our world-class festivals, but our local businesses, attractions, and especially our residents,” said Leeanna Pendergast, MPP Kitchener-Conestoga. “Growing our festivals is good for our local economy and great fun for our families.” “Events like the Kitchener Blues Festival draw tens of thousands of visitors to our community each year,” said John Milloy, MPP Kitchener Centre. “I am pleased that our government continues to support the growth of these events which will increase the number of visitors to our region, supporting our local businesses.”

300,000 people in Ontario are directly or indirectly employed by the tourism industry

In 2007, tourists spent over $22 billion in Ontario

Since 2007, Ontario has invested a total of $25 million for festivals and events through Celebrate Ontario.

Last year, 90 festivals and events were funded through Celebrate Ontario 2008.

In the 2008 Ontario Budget, the McGuinty government committed to stable and ongoing funding of the Celebrate Ontario program.