Some Windsor area festivals are sharing in some extra provincial funding.
The Windsor Film Festival is receiving $50,000, Hogs for Hospice in Leamington is getting $48,000, the Kingsville Folk Festival is getting $35,000, the Amherstburg Uncommon Festival is receiving $15,000, the Windsor Diversity Festival is getting nearly $16,000, and Polonia Fest in Essex is getting $1,100.
The tourism minister said the extra $2 million province-wide will support jobs and boost local tourism across the province.
"Every dollar invested through Celebrate Ontario results in almost $21 of visitor spending," said Minister Lisa MacLeod. "This year's program received a strong response and we're ensuring each budgeted dollar supports as many community festivals and events as possible."
The province said 24 more festivals have been added to the funding list.
The Windsor area got roughly $170,000 of the western pot of $545,000.
MacLeod said support from Celebrate Ontario helps festival and event organizers enhance programming, activities and services so that festivals and events can offer new experiences, reach new audiences and support local jobs.
"Festivals and events help create and support jobs, grow the economy and offer Ontario residents and tourists another reason to explore our wonderful province," she added.
In total, Ontario is investing $17 million in the Celebrate Ontario 2019 program to support more than 270 festivals and events.
The province added tourism supports more than 390,000 jobs and generates over $34 billion of economic activity in Ontario.
The ministry said since 2014, the province’s tourism sector has experienced year-on-year increases in tourism receipts of over six per cent.
