The pandemic has had an undeniable impact on Canada's tourism sector. Since the onset of COVID-19, the Government of Canada has delivered critical support to help tourism businesses stay open, complete essential upgrades and support jobs, while positioning the sector for a strong recovery and long-term success.
Today, Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament for Sudbury, on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor, announced tourism investments totaling $3,862,756 for four projects designed to support Indigenous communities and businesses, enhance tourism offerings and accelerate recovery efforts across Northern Ontario. Provided through FedNor's Northern Ontario Development Program and Tourism Relief Fund, the funded initiatives are expected to create and maintain more than 180 jobs, while helping to generate more than $100 million in economic benefits for the region's tourism sector.
Tourism initiatives supported by FedNor
Indigenous Tourism Ontario
$2,162,756
Tourism Relief Fund
With the help of a non-repayable FedNor investment of $1,245,250, Indigenous Tourism Ontario (ITO) will provide non-repayable contributions of up to $100,000 to Indigenous businesses, not-for-profit organizations, Band Councils, and Indigenous communities to invest in new or enhanced tourism experiences, upgrade tourism assets, and attract domestic and international tourists. Provided through the Tourism Relief Fund, the funding will also support ITO in the delivery its Renew Indigenous Tourism program, which supports Indigenous organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs as they work to recover from the pandemic. Once complete, this strategic initiative is expected to support more than
50 Indigenous projects in communities across Northern Ontario.
Indigenous Ingenuity
FedNor funding of $917,506 will allow ITO, in partnership with Science North, to roll out Indigenous Ingenuity, a traveling cultural exhibit designed to increase tourism offerings and spending across Northern Ontario while promoting Indigenous culture and innovation. Indigenous Ingenuity stands as a milestone in the presentation of Indigenous culture in Canada. First People's ancestral values and knowledge are examined through the lens of science and innovation, presenting traditional Indigenous knowledge and techniques alongside modern science. The exhibition offers visitors the unique opportunity to explore and interact with several Indigenous inventions and depicts how the ingenuity of the First Peoples continues to influence our society today. Over the course of its three-year journey across Northern Ontario, Indigenous Ingenuity is expected to help create nine new jobs and maintain 20 more.
Science North
$1,700,000
Tourism Relief Funding
To help Science North recover from the impacts of COVID-19, FedNor is providing a non-repayable contribution of $1 million to support operations and help implement a three-year recovery plan. Designed to improve operational and financial sustainability, the plan will help guide Science North in its efforts to maximize self-generated revenues, grow audiences, increase engagement with communities, improve efficiency, and reduce expenses. It also focuses on attracting more local and domestic tourists to Northern Ontario to support a strong recovery. Provided through the Tourism Relief Fund, funding will also help create new tourism experiences, deliver summer camps and programs, and export science-based traveling exhibits to clients internationally. Once complete, Science North's Recovery Plan is expected to generate over $95 million in direct and value-added tourism benefits, helping to create and maintain more than 100 jobs in Northern Ontario.
Great Northern Ontario Roadshow
A non-repayable FedNor investment of $700,000 is helping Science North roll out the Great Northern Ontario Roadshow, a series of more than 50 events designed to highlight incredible opportunities for cultural, art, heritage, culinary and recreational tourism that exist in the region. Taking place at attractions and visitor centers in more than 50 Northern Ontario communities, the events are expected to attract over 70,000 tourists, while providing a platform for local vendors, tourism outfitters and makers to showcase their products and services. The funding will also support an extensive, unified marketing campaign to attract visitors from across the province to Great Northern Ontario Roadshow events. Once complete, this strategic initiative is expected to create and maintain 55 jobs, while generating an estimated $4.3 million in economic activity.
