Minister responsible for FedNor, Patty Hadju announcing tourism investments for northwestern Ontario in Thunder Bay – (CJ Goater/Acadia Broadcasting)
The Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario is supplying a total of $4,571,673 to 22 tourism projects, businesses, and organizations throughout northern Ontario.
This includes seven projects in northwestern Ontario.
“Well, I think we’re poised in northern Ontario to actually take advantage of tourism,” explained the Minister responsible for FedNor, Patty Hadju. “We’ve actually seen the growth of tourism here in northern Ontario year over year. The City of Thunder Bay, and many other areas have been taking bold steps in terms of attracting new people to the region.”
“And what we find is when people come, they want to come back.”
The following organizations are receiving funding:
- Lake of the Woods Brewing Company (Kenora) – $976,852
- The organization is using the funding for two initiatives.
- Just over $750k is being used by LOWBrew to renovate and equip a new manufacturing facility. The facility will allow LOWBrew to reintegrate production, increase capacity, reduce shipping and production costs, while sourcing more materials from producers nearer to Kenora.
- The remaining funds were used to support the establishment of Brewer’s Village.
- The organization is using the funding for two initiatives.
- Rossport Harbour Non-Profit Marina Inc – $250,000
- The funding is being used to complete infrastructure upgrades, environmental protection activities and improvements to the local marina.
- Coopérative Centre Francophone De Thunder Bay – $214,624
- The funding is being used to support the continuation and expansion of the local francophone festival, Festival BONJOUR. A consultant is also being hired to assess previous iterations of the festival, as well as a part-time project coordinator to support festival activities.
- City of Kenora – $125,000
- Kenora is using the money to develop the design and specifications for the development of a new harbourfront pavilion on Lake of the Woods. The goal of the project is to replace the Thistle Pavilion, which is nearing its life expectancy.
- Atikokan Economic Development Corporation – $122,500
- The funding is being used to purchase a three-season 50 x 140-foot festival and events tent. The funding will also support the purchase of tables and sound equipment.
- Rainy River Future Development Corporation – $99,000
- The funding is being used to implement the Fort Frances Tourism Development Marketing Plan. The goal of the project is to enhance the community’s image as an appealing tourism destination so it can attract more visitors and encourage extended overnight stays.
- Township of Nipigon – $16,991
- The funding is being used to design, construct, and install two interactive tourism information kiosks.
“As Canadians consider other places to spend their tourism dollars, given that there is a reduction in tourism to the United States, we want to position Northern Ontario to be able to take advantage of that shift in the way that Canadians are thinking about recreation and tourism in their own country,” added Hadju.
The funding is coming through the Northern Ontario Development Program and the Tourism Growth Program.
The remaining funding is going to organizations throughout the rest of northern Ontario.
