Today, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), announced an investment of over $4.2 million, through the Tourism Growth Program, for 30 organizations across southern Ontario that are diversifying their tourism offerings and contributing to attracting new visitors to the region. This includes six projects that support Indigenous tourism across the region. Minister Tassi was joined by Lisa Hepfner, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth and Member of Parliament for Hamilton Mountain and Chad Collins, Member of Parliament for Hamilton East−Stoney Creek.
| Recipient Name | Project | Funding contribution |
|---|---|---|
Southern Ontario Tourism |
||
Argyll Regimental Foundation |
Enhance and expand the museum galleries of two distinguished Hamilton regiments through the creation of digital and other historical displays in the Armouries. |
$125,000 |
Birds Canada |
Develop new facilities and programming to expand nature-based tourism in Port Rowan, including accessible trails and nature observation lookouts. |
$200,000 |
Bronson Centre |
Create tourism packages and install art installations in Ottawa. |
$160,440 |
Bytown Museum |
Update the audio interpretive experience at the museum in Ottawa with new technology, content and language offerings. |
$155,000 |
Canadian Film Institute |
Launched the Vertical Video program at the Ottawa International Animation Festival in September 2024. |
$15,000 |
Canadian Musicians Co-operative |
Expand cultural events and provide year-round outdoor programming in Barrie. |
$200,000 |
Church-Wellesley Village Business Improvement Area |
Enhance Church-Wellesley Village BIA inclusive programming. |
$70,000 |
City of Hamilton |
Develop and implement a Destination Waterfall Master Plan. |
$100,000 |
County of Huron |
Create the Taste of Huron Trail. |
$68,255 |
Culinary Tourism Alliance |
Create culinary experiences at the Fort George National Historic Site in Niagara-on-the-Lake. |
$52,000 |
Diefenbunker Canada's Cold War Museum |
Improve access and develop new programming at the Ottawa-based museum. |
$166,000 |
GreekTown on the Danforth Business Improvement Area |
Deliver an east-end hub for the Cavalcade of Lights festival in Greektown from November 2024 to January 2025. |
$100,000 |
Italian Week Ottawa |
Enhanced Italian Week Ottawa, a cultural festival which took place in June 2024. |
$40,000 |
Lambton Heritage Museum |
Convert an 1830s log cabin at the museum in Lambton Shores to create a space for winter programming. |
$60,000 |
Menesetung Bridge Association Incorporated |
Repair and enhance the Menesetung Bridge in Goderich to allow for continued use for hikers and cyclists as part of several trails. |
$200,000 |
Niagara Grape and Wine Festival |
Develop a bilingual mobile app and launch a new culinary tourism event. |
$67,000 |
North Algona Wilberforce Township |
Improve amenities and increase capacity of the annual Bonnechere Cup snowmobile event in North Algona Township. |
$175,000 |
Ontario Festival of Small Halls |
Expand the Festival of Small Halls music events to a greater number of rural and small Ontario communities from October to December 2024. |
$350,000 |
Ottawa Tourism and Convention Authority |
Open a new visitor centre in Ottawa. |
$200,000 |
Regional Tourism Organization 4 |
Conduct research on tourism in Huron County, Perth County, Waterloo Region and Wellington County to plan the future of tourism attraction in the region and spur growth. The project will also create a digital learning hub focused on Indigenous operators, accessibility and sustainability. |
$90,000 |
Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA) |
Enhance accessibility and amenities at the Stoney Island Conservation Area in Tiverton and Allen Park between Hanover and Durham. |
$100,000 |
Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives |
Improve tourism offerings at the Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives, a heritage institution in Port Perry. |
$55,000 |
Société franco-ontarienne du patrimoine et de l'histoire d'Orléans (SFOPHO) |
Develop a tourism park to provide cultural, educational and recreational activities in Orléans. |
$137,000 |
Westdale Village BIA |
Enhance the 2024 Winter Wander festival in Hamilton. |
$45,000 |
Indigenous Tourism in southern Ontario |
||
Eelunaapeewi Lahkeewiit |
Create new and enhance existing Indigenous experiences in Chatham-Kent. |
$250,000 |
Bagida'waad Alliance |
Adapt existing infrastructure to offer Indigenous guided tours in Neyaashiinigmiing. |
$228,162 |
Chippewas of Rama First Nation |
Enhance the 2024 iteration of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation PowWow. |
$221,742 |
Indigenous Experiences |
Develop an outdoor trail experience at Mādahòkì Farm in Nepean. |
$211,100 |
Ojibway Bay Marina Ltd. |
Upgrade the facilities and increase tourism offerings at the Ojibway Bay Marina in Rama. |
$145,000 |
Six Nations of the Grand River Elected Council |
Launch a welcome centre at the Six Nations of the Grand River community. |
$225,000 |
