5 Markham festivals among those boosted by $43M in Ontario government funding

Taste of Asia, TD Jazz Festival and Together Apart, Summer Cirque among recipients

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 2, 2021
Heidi Reidner

Five Markham events are among the 439 festivals and events throughout the province splitting $43 million from the Ontario government through the Reconnect Festival and Event Program announced last month.

The funding is designed to help festival and event organizers adapt to new public health measures with virtual, drive-thru formats and other safe alternatives that allow people to safely reconnect with their communities.

“For more than a year, the pandemic has disproportionately impacted tourism and culture -- two major industries that bring people together and our communities to life,” said Lisa MacLeod, minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries during the announcement in Toronto.

“Increasing our annual support for festival and events will give the sector a much-needed boost as we continue to deal with the effects of COVID-19."

The one-time funding increase is more than double the annual funding provided to the festival and event sector in the past through what was known as Celebrate Ontario, prior to the pandemic.

Dave MacNeil, the chief executive officer for Festivals and Events Ontario, said the much-needed funding was better late than never.

"All of us at FEO thank minister Lisa MacLeod for this Reconnect launch," he said. "Although a little later than we had hoped, the minister and her team worked tirelessly to get more funding for the program and for that we are incredibly grateful."

The investment also includes $6 million to Celebrate Ontario Blockbuster events, which support municipalities and organizations to host large-scale, high-impact signature events that draw significant tourist attendance and increase tourist spending.

That included the Together Apart, Summer Cirque event at the Markham Fairgrounds in July which received $250,000 in funding and anchored part of the city's Be Our Guest program promoting safe tourism in Markham, as well as supporting the local hotel and hospitality sector.

The Taste of Asia Festival received $130,000, the TD Markham Jazz Festival 2021 edition got $42,000 and the Literati Energy Arts cultural festival received $16,210.

Markham's Kindred Spirit Orchestra will continue to make beautiful music and connect with its audience with a $53,000 grant supporting its Contemporary Music Festival.