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Tall Ships Brockville

Information about the Brockville Tall Ships Festival that happens every 3 years, and the Big River Festival which is on every summer

Ontario Supporting Cultural Tourism and Local Events in Brockville

 Ontario Supporting Cultural Tourism and Local Events in Brockville

Steve Clark, MPP New Release Header

Government investment will strengthen local economy and local recovery

News – April 29, 2022

Brockville ― Today, MPP Steve Clark announced that Ontario is allocating $50,000 to the City of Brockville through the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund (OCAF) for the Tall Ships Challenge Brockville Weekend 2022. This funding will help develop, promote and present high-quality, high-profile events that strengthen the economies of communities across Ontario.

“As Ontario recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, our government continues to invest in our culture and tourism, and strengthen our local economies here in Eastern Ontario,” said Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. “I’m proud to support bright, thriving communities across the region and the province.”

The government has also provided over $250,000 in combined operating funding to the Thousand Islands Playhouse and the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival through the Ontario Arts Council in 2021-22. These grants create more opportunities for artists and arts organizations to connect with their audiences and cope with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Ontario’s heritage, sport, tourism and culture industries were among the first and hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic – and will take the longest to recover,” said Minister MacLeod. “To support the province’s economic and social recovery, it is critical that our government continues to support organizations that are finding new ways to engage with and reconnect Ontarians, while preserving jobs and supporting local economies. Our investments through the OCAF program continue to deliver impressive cultural and economic benefits that help to strengthen our culture and tourism sectors in local communities across the province.”

In total, the Ontario government is providing more than $4 million to 54 cultural tourism organizations through the OCAF. The OCAF has pivoted to support a variety of online events and experiences, ensuring culture and tourism experiences remain accessible across the province during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary by offering new ways for visitors to engage with the festival virtually on a redesigned website, with conversations, live presentations, video screenings, and photo essays throughout the month of May, and beyond.

“I would like to thank Minister MacLeod, MPP Clark, and the provincial government for their investment in Brockville’s Tall Ships Challenge Brockville Weekend 2022,” said Mike Kalivas, Mayor of the City of Brockville. “As Brockville and the surrounding areas recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, these local cultural and tourism events are key to bringing our community back together.”

 QUICK FACTS

  • Since 2018, the government has provided more than $8 million to 111 organizations through the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund.
  • Cultural tourism events that receive support through OCAF have a big impact in communities across Ontario and range from large art and music festivals to smaller events that celebrate local culture and heritage.
  • The OCAF program offers an impressive return on investment. The funds are provided in the form of partially repayable loans and are directed towards the marketing and promotional costs of the new attraction or special event.
  • The 2021 Budget, Ontario’s Action Plan: Protecting People’s Health and Our Economy, brings total investments to $16.3 billion to protect people’s health and $23.3 billion to protect the economy. Ontario’s COVID-19 action plan support now totals $51 billion.
  • OCAF continues to accept new applications for new events and offers flexibility regarding project timing and scope. For more information on the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund and a full list of recipients, please visit the OCAF website.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund Recipients

MEDIA CONTACTS

Erin Merkley
Constituency Assistant
erin.merkley@pc.ola.org