Follow Us! Like Our Page!

Government of Canada invests over $8.2 million in community infrastructure and tourism projects in Niagara region

Press Release

From: Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

FedDev Ontario supports 34 projects to drive community revitalization, tourism and local economic growth

October 12, 2022

As one of Canada’s top tourist destinations, the Niagara region attracts more than 13 million visitors each year to enjoy the area’s renowned tourist attractions, wineries, museums, shops, restaurants and the natural beauty of local parks and Niagara Falls. Tourism spending in the region is over $2 billion annually and has a significant spillover impact on the local economy. The Government of Canada understands the importance of the tourism sector and vibrant community spaces for destinations like Niagara and is committed to supporting these communities as they rebound from the pandemic and position for a strong future.

Today, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), announced over $8.2 million in support for 34 tourism and community infrastructure projects in the Niagara region. She was joined by Chris Bittle, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines, and Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre. These investments, through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF) and the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF), will create and revitalize community spaces and enhance tourism attractions to welcome more visitors and build stronger, more vibrant communities.

The announcement was hosted by the City of St. Catharines, which received a non-repayable contribution of more than $175,000 to renovate the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre. With this investment, the City will install new museum exhibits and make the entrance more accessible.

In addition, Plenty Canada received $180,000 to install contemporary Indigenous public art at Jordan Hollow Park in Lincoln, establishing an Indigenous cultural park that will be a gathering space for community members and visitors, celebrating Indigenous art and culture in the region.

An additional 32 projects in the Niagara region are receiving support to enhance community spaces and tourist offerings, attract visitors and prepare for future growth. Project details can be found in the backgrounder.

Quotes

“Modern, vibrant community spaces and tourist sites attract millions of visitors to the Niagara region annually, creating jobs and generating important economic growth. Today’s investment will help the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre, Plenty Canada and 32 other businesses and organizations across the Niagara region to improve public spaces and tourist experiences, benefiting visitors and local communities.”
– The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

“Our government is committed to ensuring the tourism, events, cultural and community sectors have the support they need to recover from the impacts of the pandemic. The more than $8.2-million investment announced today for 34 local community infrastructure and tourism projects is making a difference for the Niagara region which attracts millions of visitors each year and adds to the vibrant culture that makes Canada so special.”
– Chris Bittle, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines<

“Niagara region, a world class destination, has so much to offer. These investments made through the Government of Canada are helping our communities and businesses welcome back tourists and prepare for a strong, resilient future.”
– Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre

“The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre is grateful for this funding which is providing the Museum the opportunity to bring the stories of the people of our community to life in a new way. This funding is helping us to make gallery improvements that will provide our visitors with new exhibits and make upgrades to our facility’s accessibility, making it easier for people of all abilities to access the stories we have to tell.”
– Kathleen Powell, Supervisor of Historical Services/Curator, St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre

“The first Indigenous people to encounter Europeans in the Niagara Region were those of the Neutral Nation, an Iroquoian language speaking group. Through this contribution, we will commission public artworks to add to a newly designed Jordan Hollow Park, helping to make it an Indigenous arts and tourism destination.”
– Tim Johnson, Supervisor, Plenty Canada

Quick facts

  • The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre is dedicated to engaging visitors, telling the story of the city through artifacts, and preserving, sharing and celebrating the cultural identity and history of the city. The museum collection has approximately 800,000 records, including photographs, artifacts, archival documents and reference files.
  • Plenty Canada is an Indigenous-led not-for-profit organization that facilitates access to and shares resources with Indigenous peoples and other community groups around the world in support of their environmental protection and sustainable development goals.
  • Tourism spending in the Niagara region is over $2 billion annually, and it is estimated that for every $10 spent on tourism activities, $7 is also spent indirectly in the community.
  • The Government of Canada’s $500-million Tourism Relief Fund is helping tourism-oriented businesses and organizations recover from the pandemic and prepare for future growth, with a minimum of $50 million of the Fund allocated to supporting Indigenous-led projects or Indigenous-focused projects. FedDev Ontario is delivering nearly $120 million of the Tourism Relief Fund across southern Ontario.
  • With a national investment of $500 million over two years, the Canada Community Revitalization Fund supports projects that build new community infrastructure and revitalize existing assets, bring people back to public spaces safely and stimulate local economies. This includes $139 million for projects in southern Ontario, delivered by FedDev Ontario.
  • Since 2015, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has invested nearly $100 million in over 130 projects in the Niagara region, creating over 1,200 jobs and maintaining over 3,500 jobs.
  • Today’s over $8.2 million Government of Canada investment is pending successful completion of signed contribution agreements.

Associated links

Contacts

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

Media Relations
FedDev Ontario
fdo.mediarel-relmedias.fdo@feddevontario.gc.ca

IBF5

Loading

NationTalk Partners & Sponsors Learn More