Ten organizations across Niagara will receive more than $1 million in federal funding to help diversify tourism offerings and attract more visitors to the region.
That announcement was made Tuesday by Niagara Centre MP Vance Badawey, on behalf of Filomena Tassi, minister responsible for Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, in front of Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum.
The museum will apply its $100,000 grant toward the design and installation of new exhibit displays with technology and accessibility elements. In collaboration with local historians, the displays will feature less-told stories of Niagara, such as Black and Indigenous history.
“With a collection of over 54,000 artifacts, documents, photos and books, this museum boasts one of Ontario’s most significant local history collections,” said Badawey, who was joined by St. Catharines MP Chris Bittle, museum officials and other local dignitaries for the funding announcement.
“The stories preserved within these walls play a major role in telling the history of Canada, but as well leave visitors with a deeper appreciation and understanding of the region’s heritage.”
Heartland Forest in Niagara Falls will receive $100,000 to install augmented reality Indigenous interpretative exhibits.
Niagara Parks Foundation will receive $100,000 to develop an outdoor artificial ice-skating loop in Niagara Falls.
City of St. Catharines will receive $30,000 to develop a strategic plan for the municipality and the Town of Lincoln’s new destination marketing organization.
Foster Festival will receive $40,000 to extend the performance season with a new Canadian production in St. Catharines.
Bittle said the tourism industry is a “significant” contributor to Niagara’s economy, as well as across Ontario and Canada.
“It’s why the Government of Canada is investing more than $100 million in the Tourism Growth Program,” he said.
Also, Landscape of Nations 360 will receive $180,000 to develop Indigenous experiential tours in Niagara.
Town of Lincoln will receive $250,000 to support the creation of the Sho’arishon Indigenous Cultural Park in Lincoln.
Niagara’s South Coast Tourism will receive $78,000 to support development of Indigenous tourism products and experiences along the Lake Erie shoreline.
As well, 13th Street Winery will receive $120,000 to complete facility improvements and develop pedestrian pathways in St. Catharines. Urban Tractor Farm Winery will receive $120,000 to enhance its visitor centre, add amenities and extend tourism activities to all seasons at the Beamsville winery.
Outside the region, Pumpkins After Dark will receive $200,000 to expand the pumpkin festival in Milton with a new barn to allow for more attractions.
“Delivered by Canada’s regional development agencies (such as FedDev Ontario), this program is helping organizations and businesses in the tourism growth industry draw travellers to Canada year-round,” Bittle said.
“Support under the Tourism Growth Program can help businesses to enhance offerings, invest in new technologies, develop new products that expand into the shoulder season, increase accessibility and so much more.”
He said applications for the next round of program funding are being accepted until Sept. 17.
Said Badawey, “Niagara is expanding its brand, enriching the experience for our international visitors, resulting in longer and more return visits.”
Mona Babin, president of Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum, said its expansion will provide “inclusive and engaging” exhibitions.
“We’re also adding a new community space where people can come together to learn and share a mutual love and respect of history,” she said.
Added museum curator Sarah Kaufman, “This revamp is long overdue and it coincides with the museum’s plans to expand its facilities in the near future and to continue collecting and to be accessible for all Canadians to visit and volunteer, and so that we have a new programming space for experiential learning,” she said.
“(The funding) will help our museum to improve our exhibitions so that we can become a valuable contributor to the tourism economy of Niagara-on-the-Lake.”