|
|
|
|
| TODAY'S NEWS | SEARCH THE NEWSROOM | NEWS BY MINISTRY |
Funding Provided To Stimulate Winter Tourism And Arts Education In
Toronto
TORONTO, Nov. 24 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is providing $301,000 in
new funding to promote Toronto winter tourism and arts education, Tourism and
Recreation Minister Jim Bradley and Culture Minister Madeleine Meilleur
announced today.
The Government of Ontario is contributing $200,000 to help fund a
marketing campaign promoting First Night® Toronto and other winter
attractions to consumers living in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Ontario markets
outside the Greater Toronto Area. Special packages will offer consumers one or
two nights accommodation with dinner and tickets to Olympic Spirit and their
choice of tickets to either First Night® Toronto or Holiday Dreams.
Olympic Spirit is the world's first and only permanent entertainment
complex with an Olympic Games theme. Holiday Dreams transforms Ontario Place
into Toronto's largest outdoor holiday theme park. First Night® Toronto will
showcase local artisans and cultural events from December 29 to 31st in a
family-oriented, alcohol-free New Year's Eve tradition celebration. This
marketing campaign is a joint partnership between the Ontario Ministry of
Tourism and Recreation and Via Rail, Delta Chelsea Hotel, First Night®
Toronto, Olympic Spirit, Holiday Dreams and Cadillac Fairview.
"By investing in tourism we are creating prosperity for people, promoting
economic growth and building strong communities," said Bradley. "By funding
partnerships, we can continue to build on Toronto's reputation as a tourist
destination for all seasons."
First Night® Toronto also received a one-year grant for $61,000 from
the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) to create programs and activities that
bring families together to celebrate art and education during the annual
festival. Since 1999, the OTF has supported the annual festival with a total
of $140,000. The Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of
Culture, is funded through Ontario's charity casino initiative.
Three arts education partners will also receive a $40,000 grant through
the Ministry of Culture to deliver a program for youth at risk, who will work
with artists to develop a production that will be performed at First Night®
Toronto. Partners include Malvern Youth for the Arts and three arts education
organizations - Inner City Angels, Prologue to the Performing Arts and
Mariposa in the Schools - in collaboration with the Malvern Community
Coalition and the Toronto and District School Board.
"First Night® Toronto will be a cultural feast showcasing our diversity
and the creative talents of Toronto's youth at the city's incredible
Distillery Historic District," said Minister of Culture Madeleine Meilleur.
"This government is pleased to fund this unique cultural partnership that
revitalizes tourism, promotes arts education, and assists youth at risk."
The First Night® Toronto 2004 runs from December 29 to 31 in the city's
Distillery Historic District.
Disponible en français
www.tourism.gov.on.ca
www.ontariotravel.net
www.culture.gov.on.ca
-30-
For further information: David Oved, Tourism and Recreation Minister's Office, (416) 314-1400; Guy Lepage, Culture Minister's Office, (416) 325-1689; Gary Wheeler, Communications Branch, (416) 325-8391
Other news releases disseminated by this ministry
