GORE BAY—Ontario is supporting festivals and events across the province, including the Gore Bay Writers and Jazz Festival that is expected to draw tourists, create jobs and grow local economies.
The Gore Bay Writers and Jazz Festival, which will take place this summer, has received funding of $15,323 through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
Nicole Weppler, curator of the Gore Bay Museum, who is organizing the event, told the Recorder on Tuesday, “Yes, we are very pleased to receive this funding. Just imagine how wonderful this event is going to be for the harbour centre and the town.” She pointed out the festival will focus on jazz music and poetry writers. “It is going to be wonderful to have this event here, and it is different—no one on the Island has held this type of event.”
Through the Celebrate Ontario 2014 program, the province is helping 229 festivals and events that celebrate the province’s diversity, heritage and culture, while enhancing the experience for visitors and increasing attendance.
“Tourism is a billion dollar industry that supports over 300,000 jobs for Ontarians across the province, many of them youth,” said Michael Chan, minister of tourism, culture and sport, in a release. “Through Celebrate Ontario and programs like IGNITE, our government is boosting tourism to strengthen our local economies and build our provincial profile as a premier destination that offers exciting experiences for visitors and residents alike.”
Gary Masters, executive director, Festivals and Events Ontario said, “Celebrate Ontario is a valued program that recognizes the importance of our province’s unique festivals and events and supports the growth of our tourism industry. This year, it is once again helping organizers to enhance their events so that they can attract more visitors and create more jobs.”
Festivals and events that received Celebrate Ontario funding in 2012 reported an increase of 1.2 million visitors and more than $206 million in visitor spending compared to 2011. Festivals and events support over 22,000 jobs in Ontario every year.
In 2012, tourism contributed more than $23 billion to the economy and supported over 300,000 direct and indirect jobs in Ontario.
