Richmond Hill wins big Festivals & Events Ontario award

Organization also gives nods to Vaughan, Aurora

YorkRegion.com
March 5, 2019
Aileen Zangouei

Richmond Hill is on the list of winners for the Municipality of the Year Awards announced by the 2019 Festivals and Events in Ontario, presented by OLG.

The winners were announced and awarded on Feb. 28 during FEO's annual conference, ENGAGE, in London, Ont. Through this special award, FEO recognized those municipalities, towns or cities and markets including Richmond Hill who have worked, through concentrated efforts, to provide an atmosphere beneficial to successful festivals and events.

Richmond Hill tied with Hamilton for the award in one of the three categories titled, "Population more than 150,000."

Vaughan was among the list of winners for the 2019 Achievement Award sponsored by CTM Media Group. Vaughan was recognized for the best volunteer program.

FEO also announced the 2019 Top 100 Festivals and Events in Ontario, with Aurora, Richmond Hill and Vaughan on the list.
The festivals and events in York Region that were recognized as the top 100 were:

• Aurora's Haunted Forest
• Aurora's Tree Lighting Ceremony
• Canada Day Celebrations, Richmond Hill
• Vaughan Celebrates Concerts in the Park

The top 100 recipients represented festivals and events that excel within the industry, and a select group which represent some of the most well-known and respected celebrations in the province which draw both an international and domestic audience.

Submissions from FEO members were received for consideration in the fall of 2018 and were judged by an independent panel of judges. Ontario municipalities and festivals and events within their regions were represented in the submissions.

FEO was established in 1987 as an association devoted to the growth and stability of the festival and event industry in Ontario. FEO supports a lively, engaged and dedicated festival and events industry by sharing knowledge, enabling networking and providing leadership on education, advocacy and promotion. The festivals and events industry in Ontario is estimated to generate in excess of $2.3 billion annually in contribution to regional GDP, create/sustain about 50,000 full-year equivalent jobs and foster around $1 billion in taxes at all levels of government.