CARP – It was a great way to kick off June as MPP Dr. Merrilee Fullerton announce the province will be providing the Carp Fair with $31,250 through the Celebrate Ontario program.

The MPP presented the Carp Agricultural Society board with $31,250 in funding on June 1 to help support its activities in running this year’s Carp Fair.

MPP Fullerton also announced funding of $18,165 to help support the Torchlight Shakespeare in the Park productions in Ottawa through this summer.  

The provincial government’s Celebrate Ontario program supports festivals and events of all sizes to reach new audiences, improve the programs for visitors and tourists, benefit local economies and create new jobs. The funding is expected to boost local tourism. It is estimated that for every dollar invested through Celebrate Ontario, that there will be almost $21 spent by a tourist or local attendee. 

“Our government recognizes the important contributions that festivals and events make to the local economy,” Fullerton released in a statement. “I am pleased we are supporting both the Carp Fair and Kanata’s Torchlight Shakespeare in the Park. Both provide a positive economic and cultural impact to our City. And, more than that, they are good family fun.”

The Ontario government is investing more than $13 million in more than 250 festivals and events in communities across the province, plus another $4 million in additional funding for larger events.

“Tourism is a key economic driver in the province,” Fullerton said. “The latest data from 2016 indicates tourism supported over 390,000 jobs and generated over $34.1 billion of economic activity in Ontario.”