Rainbow Club of South Georgian Bay Experience Ontario Grant

The Rainbow Club of South Georgian Bay has received an Experience Ontario Grant of $55,939 for the Collingwood Pride Festival.

Ontario Investing $19.5 Million to Support Festival & Event Organizers

Ontario is investing $19.5 million to support festival and event organizers with carrying out innovative, in-person experiences that connect people with their communities and increase tourism spending. Experience Ontario 2023 program funding will support events throughout the province and enable recipient organizations to expand programming to draw visitors who will stay longer in local accommodations, eat in restaurants, shop at local retailers, and support local businesses.

“Our government understands the importance of tourism and culture to Ontario’s economic success. These sectors bring our communities to life,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “Our government’s support for festivals and events through the Experience Ontario program demonstrates that we are supporting organizations across the province that are creating new and innovative opportunities to bring Ontarians together.”

“The festival and event industry plays a vital role in strengthening local economies in communities throughout the province,” said Brian Saunderson, MPP for Simcoe-Grey. “I am pleased that we are supporting event organizers right here at home who are creating innovative experiences that help people engage with their communities while creating jobs and boosting the local economy.”

MPP Saunderson said Tourism is a key economic driver in Ontario, supporting approximately 395,000 jobs and generating over $38 billion in spending. He said tourism operators throughout Simcoe-Grey continue to work hard to bounce back from difficult times resulting from the COVID-19 closures.

Founded in 2017, The Rainbow Club is a grassroots community-based organization serving the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer or questioning individuals and all collective friends, families and allies (LGBTQ+) across the South Georgian Bay Region. The club’s mandate is “Connecting our Community,” doing so through social events, fundraising, educational programming and much more.