OHTO announces support for tourism recovery in Ontario’s Highlands

News Release

OHTO announces support for tourism recovery in
Ontario’s Highlands
Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization (OHTO) delivers $3.67 million
to 61 businesses and organizations, through the Government of Canada’s Tourism Relief Fund, to attract visitors and support future growth.

OHTO announces support for tourism recovery in Ontario’s Highlands

Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization (OHTO) delivers $3.67 million to 61 businesses and organizations, through the Government of Canada’s Tourism Relief Fund, to attract visitors and support future growth.

Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization received $3.67 million to deliver the Regional Tourism Relief Fund, as part of a Government of Canada investment of over $78 million, which includes an almost $10-million top up to FedDev Ontario’s original $68.5-million contribution.This includes, Bancroft Business Improvement Area (BBIA), who is receiving $44,000] to implement designs and installations downtown, and develop a web presence including a self-guided tour.

Quotes

“The Government of Canada’s $78-million investment through the Tourism Relief Fund is helping communities across southern Ontario. With this funding, southern Ontario’s Regional Tourism Organizations and Indigenous Tourism Ontario are providing hundreds of local businesses and organizations with the support they need to create jobs, attract more visitors and grow local economies, now and into the future.” –  The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

“The Canadian tourism sector continues to be one of the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are fully committed to supporting businesses and organizations through these challenging times, keeping safety as the top priority while ensuring they get support to quickly recover, innovate their products and services, and thrive. The Tourism Relief Fund will help businesses/organizations adapt, make improvements, and be ready to welcome back guests. It also feeds into a broader strategy to help the sector survive the pandemic, recover and grow. The Canadian economy will not fully recover until our tourism sector recovers.” – The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance

“We are extremely grateful to be working alongside FedDev Ontario to deliver this much-needed funding to our tourism industry. We are a region full of resilient and innovative operators and organizations who care deeply about their communities. This funding support enables them to provide elevated experiences to visitors and re-ignite the spirit of our region.” –  Nicole Whiting, Executive Director, Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization

Quick facts

  • OHTO is moving towards developing the region through the lens of responsible tourism – focusing on the pillars of inclusivity, community alignment and sustainability.
  • In 2021 OHTO delivered $1.2 million to 93 businesses and organizations through the TRIP – Capital Projects funded by FedDev Ontario to help these operators offer a safer visitor experience.
  • The Bancroft BIA has received $44,000 to develop downtown art installations and beautify the downtown core.

Associated Links

 Contacts

Jody Yantha
BBIA Board of Management
bancroftbia@gmail.com

Kate Evans
Industry Partnerships and Funding Coordinator
Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization
kate.evans@ohto.ca

Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
edward.hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca

About Bancroft BIA

The mandate of all Business Improvement Areas in Ontario are governed by the Ontario Municipal Act. The Bancroft BIA Board of Management is a group of member-elected volunteers who oversee the improvement, beautification and maintenance of municipally-owned land, buildings and structures in the area beyond that provided at the expense of the municipality generally and promotes the area as a business or shopping area, on behalf of BIA members,in cooperation with the Town of Bancroft and area stakeholders.  Learn more at: DiscoverBancroft.com or visit our Facebook page.

About OHTO
Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization (OHTO) is a not-for-profit organization mandated and funded by the province of Ontario to support tourism within the counties of Haliburton, Lanark, and Renfrew and portions of Frontenac, Hastings, and Lennox and Addington. OHTO’s mandate is to build and support a competitive tourism region, known as Ontario’s Highlands, through marketing, funding opportunities, education and product development. OHTO functions in partnership with established and recognized tourism organizations, municipalities and entities within the region to move forward in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration. Learn more at www.ohto.ca .

 

About FedDev Ontario

For 13 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.