Northern Ontario’s ailing tourism industry got a boost from the federal government on Saturday with an announcement of $7.6 million in funding to help spur sector growth.
The funds will contribute to 36 tourism initiatives led by communities, businesses, and organizations in the region.
FedNor made the announcement to coincide with National Tourism Week, which ran between May 24 and 31.
Here in Sudbury, Science North received a little over $1 million to develop the Jane Goodall Reasons for Hope IMAX Film and Skill-Share Program.
Sudbury Indie Cinema also received $31,500 to hire a youth intern to develop, implement and evaluate strategies to increase the cinema's reach into various ethnic and cultural groups, particularly the Francophone community.
At $1 million, the City of Kenora received one of the largest portions of funding, which it will use to launch the fourth phase of its community’s downtown revitalization strategy.
In Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island, Enaadmaagehjik, the local economic development office, will put $611,051 toward phase one of the Point Grondine Eco Park Development, a new Indigenous tourism experience. Another $75,000 will help it develop an Indigenous culinary tourism experience, including an outdoor kitchen.
And in Sault Ste. Marie, Canoes for Conservation will use $65,667 to establish an ecotourism adventure that includes a tour on a large birch bark canoe highlighting Indigenous culture and the history of the Great Lakes.
A full list of the funding recipients and their allotments is available here.
