Five recreation and tourism projects within the Kenora-Rainy River areas have received $645,000 from the provincial government.

The investment will be funded through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) and go towards helping boost economic growth, improve quality of life, and build strong, healthy communities.

“Investing in these important sectors is about enhancing and celebrating communities – it also creates jobs, keeps the North competitive, and encourages new investment,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry.

“Our government’s targeted funding is leading to increased economic prosperity in the region and helping to ensure people will continue to live, work and play here.”

The City of Kenora got the biggest boost, with $400,000 for the Lake of the Woods Museum. The money will go towards protecting and preserving local and Indigenous artifacts while improving the building’s accessibility.

The Young Men’s and Young Women’s Christian Association (YMCA-YWCA) Camp Stephens, near Kenora, got $99,825 to upgrade facilities and accommodations.

The remaining three projects receiving NOHFC funding include:

  • $86,850 for the Township of Lake of the Woods to design and build a second pavilion at Oscar Bay Beach, allowing the park to continue to host events and people while increasing safety standards,
     
  • $40,785 for Jano Productions to produce the first of a series of one-hour documentaries entitled Traditions: Wild Rice Renew, highlighting the importance of wild rice, or manoomin, to First Nation communities,
     
  • $18,484 for Minaki Yurt Adventures to build and furnish a modern yurt to meet the growing demand for glamping accommodations in the region.

The NOHFC promotes economic prosperity across Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects – big and small, rural and urban – that stimulate growth, job creation and skills development.

Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $473 million in 4,244 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $1.5 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 6,600 jobs.