The Ministry of Tourism has amended the Celebrate Ontario 2009 eligibility requirements such that charitable fundraising festivals and events are now eligible for Celebrate Ontario 2009 funding.

It is the ministry’s expectation that any new or enhanced tourism festivals and events that are conducted solely or primarily as charitable fundraising festivals and events will stimulate increased incremental visitor attendance and visitor spending.

 

December 24, 2008: New Questions and Answers have been added, and are denoted in blue.

 

December 4, 2008:  New Questions and Answers have been added, and are denoted in red.

 

• Celebrate Ontario 2009 is focused on tourism festivals and events.   How does the Ministry of Tourism define a tourism festival or event?

For the purposes of Celebrate Ontario 2009, the Ministry of Tourism defines a tourism festival or event as a public celebration that:

• is organized as a series of events or activities over a set period;
• demonstrates a capacity and intention to develop itself as a tourism driver over the long term; and
• is promoted to and attracts tourists.

It is the ministry’s expectation that tourism festivals and events which receive Celebrate Ontario 2009 funding will stimulate increased incremental visitor attendance and visitor spending.

This and other key definitions are provided in the Celebrate Ontario 2009 Application Guide.

• Are new tourism festivals or events eligible to apply for funding?

New tourism festivals or events are eligible to apply if the sponsoring organization or applicant has been in existence for one year or longer in Ontario as of January 2009.

• My organization oversees the production of more than one tourism festival or event throughout the calendar year.  Can my organization submit an application for each tourism festival or event?

Yes.  There is no prescribed limit to the number of applications that a sponsoring organization/applicant can submit as long as all eligibility and mandatory requirements are met.

• How do I apply for funding?

Applicants must use the Celebrate Ontario 2009 Application Form to submit their applications. 

 

Review the Application Guide and Application Form carefully to ensure that your tourism festival or event and your proposed program, activities and services comply with the eligibility and mandatory requirements.  

 

Complete the Application Form, sign it, and make sure that you provide all the information we will need to evaluate your application, including letters of support. 
Send an original signed copy, two additional copies and one electronic copy (in Microsoft Word format on CD) of your completed application with letters of support by mail or courier to the following address:

 

Celebrate Ontario 2009
c/o Ministry of Tourism
Investment and Development Office
900 Bay Street, 9th Floor Hearst Block
Toronto, Ontario 
M7A 2E1

 

Applications received by e-mail or facsimile will not be considered.

• What is the deadline for applying?

The application deadline is January 16, 2009 and it is important to note that late applications will not be accepted.

 

Applications may be submitted in person or by mail/courier.  Applications submitted in person must be received at the Ministry of Tourism by 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time), January 16, 2009.  Mailed or couriered applications must be postmarked no later than January 16, 2009. Applications postmarked after the deadline will not be accepted.

• How much can I apply for?

The maximum level of Celebrate Ontario 2009 funding assistance per application will be based on a three-tier model as follows:

 

• Tier 1 — Festivals or events with operating budgets less than $250,000 annually will be eligible for up to $50,000 of assistance. 
• Tier 2 — Festivals or events with operating budgets between $250,000 and $1 million annually will be eligible for up to $100,000 of assistance. 
• Tier 3 — Festivals or events with operating budgets in excess of $1 million annually will be eligible for up to $400,000 of assistance. 

 

For new tourism festivals or events, the amount of assistance will be determined by the planned annual operating budget of the festival or event.

For the purposes of Celebrate Ontario 2009, the Ministry of Tourism does not include the value of in-kind expenses or contributions or potential Celebrate Ontario 2009 funding in the determination of Tier 1, Tier 2 or Tier 3 tourism festival or event operating budgets. 

 

Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 operating budgets are determined on a cash basis only.  The operating budget must be for the specific tourism festival or event and not for the organization applying.

 

The allocation of Celebrate Ontario 2009 funding among Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 tourism festivals and events will be determined by the number of applications approved in each category.

• Is there a requirement for matching funding?

No.  There is no requirement for matching funding.  However, tourism festivals or events with own-source revenues and funding from multiple private and public sector sources (either cash or in-kind) will score higher in their evaluations than those tourism festivals or events without such additional funding.

• How does an organization certify that they are not in default of the terms and conditions of any grant or loan agreement with any ministry of agency of the Government of Ontario?

Each application must contain the signature of an authorized official to certify that the information provided in the application is true, correct and complete. The application must also contain confirmation that the festival or event is not in default of the terms and conditions of any grant or loan agreement with any ministry or agency of the Government of Ontario.

• What types of expenses related to the enhanced programming, activities and services are eligible?

In general, eligible enhancement costs include programming costs associated with new activities, programs or services that enhance your tourism festival or event.

 

Examples of eligible enhancement expenses include, but are not limited to:

 

• Fees paid to artists, musicians, performers, celebrities, special guests and speakers, including travel and accommodation and entertainment agencies
• New programming such as fireworks, amusement and midway shows, inflatables and speciality attractions
• Moveable assets (not a permanent installation) that support enhanced programs and services (e.g., tables, bleachers/chairs, tents/awnings and canopy, stages, mascots, sound and lighting, fencing, etc.)
• Audio and visual support and technical and stage crews
• New or improved visitor services
• Website development
• Services for greening the festival or event
• Services for people with disabilities
• Site services related to the new program, activity or service such as security, sanitation products and shuttle buses.

 

Applicants are expected to demonstrate how proposed expenses (associated with their enhancement) will increase visitor attendance and visitor spending. 

• Can I apply for marketing funding?

No.  Marketing activities are not eligible for Celebrate Ontario 2009 funding. 
Applicants are encouraged to apply to the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation's Tourism Event Marketing Partnership Program (TEMPP) for marketing support.  The TEMPP guidelines, application form and contact information are available at Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation.

• What types of expenses related to the enhanced programming, activities and services are not eligible?

The following expenses are not funded:

 

• Core administrative and overhead costs such as rent, telephone and communication lines/services, utilities, maintenance costs and any operational expenses related to an organization’s ongoing activities
• Permanent staff salaries
• Legal, audit or interest fees
• Travel costs
• Any costs incurred for festivals or events held outside Ontario
• Budget deficits
• Capital costs related to permanent structures (e.g., materials, labour, vehicles, land acquisition, purchase of equipment for project construction, etc.)
• Refundable Goods and Services Tax or other refundable expenses (e.g., security deposits, etc.)
• Motorized vehicles
• Consulting or other services to support the development of a strategic or operational plan
• Marketing costs.

• How are applications evaluated?

Organizations across the province have shown great interest in Celebrate Ontario. The selection process is highly competitive.

  

Applications will be evaluated in a fair and consistent manner based on pre-determined criteria outlined in the Celebrate Ontario 2009 Application

Guide.  Due to the volume of applications and the high level of funding

requests, not all projects can be funded. 

• Who can I contact for more information?

You are strongly advised to consult with your local tourism advisor before submitting an application. Contract information for the tourism advisors is provided in the Application Guide.

 

Telephone and email enquiries may be directed to any of the Ministry of Tourism’s or the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines’ tourism advisors listed in the Application Guide. 

 

Questions regarding Celebrate Ontario 2009 will be accepted by telephone or by e-mail up to January 16, 2008, and should be directed to the tourism advisors listed in the Application Guide. 

 

The Ministry of Tourism will provide answers to all questions on a timely basis, and will post answers to applicants’ questions on the Ministry of Tourism’s website at www.tourism.gov.on.ca. 

 

Applicants are encouraged to regularly visit the ministry’s website for updates to questions and answers regarding Celebrate Ontario 2009.

• After my project is over, do I have to submit reports to the Ministry of Tourism?

Yes.  Successful applicants must provide a post-project report on the outcome of the project within 90 days of festival or event conclusion.  Successful applicants must use the Celebrate Ontario 2009 Festival/Event Summary Report form to provide this information.

 

• The Celebrate Ontario 2009 Application Guide states that festivals or events with operating budgets less than $250,000 will be eligible for up to $50,000 of assistance.   My new festival will likely have a budget of $50,000.   Does this mean that my new festival may be eligible for up to $50,000 in Celebrate Ontario 2009 assistance?  Could this Celebrate Ontario 2009 funding be used to pay for the entirety of my new festival’s costs or will Celebrate Ontario 2009 assistance be pro-rated as a percentage of my new festival budget?

For new tourism festivals or events, Celebrate Ontario 2009 may provide funding up to the lesser amount of either (1) one-third (33 1/3%) of the budget of the new tourism festival or event or (2) the maximum level of assistance prescribed by the three-tier funding model outlined in the Celebrate Ontario 2009 Application Guide. 
Accordingly, for a new tourism festival or event with a $50,000 budget, Celebrate Ontario 2009 could provide funding up to a maximum of one-third — $16,666.67— of the budget of the new tourism festival or event.
For enhancement projects associated with existing tourism festivals or events, the maximum level of Celebrate Ontario 2009 funding assistance per application will be governed by the three-tier model outlined in the Celebrate Ontario 2009 Application Guide:

• Tier 1 — Existing tourism festivals or events with operating budgets less than $250,000 will be eligible for up to $50,000 of assistance. 
• Tier 2 — Existing tourism festivals or events with operating budgets between $250,000 and $1 million will be eligible for up to $100,000 of assistance. 
• Tier 3 — Existing tourism festivals or events with operating budgets in excess of $1 million will be eligible for up to $400,000 of assistance. 

New or existing tourism festivals or events with own-source revenues and funding from multiple private and public sector sources (either cash or in-kind) will score higher in their evaluations than those new or existing tourism festivals or events without such additional monies. 

• My festival and event organization is a sole proprietorship.  Am I eligible to apply for Celebrate Ontario 2009 funding?

Yes.

• My event is moving locations and we need to purchase more seating.  Is this moveable seating eligible for Celebrate Ontario 2009 funding?

Yes.  However, the seating must be in support of enhanced programs and services, and you must demonstrate how the addition of this seating is expected to stimulate increased incremental visitor attendance and visitor spending. 
In all cases, applicants must identify a relationship between proposed Celebrate Ontario 2009 expenses and project outcomes.

• Are biennial (occurring every two years) festivals and events eligible for Celebrate Ontario 2009 funding?

Yes.

• Are temporary staff costs related to an enhancement eligible for Celebrate Ontario 2009 funding?

Yes, as long as these temporary staff costs are linked to an enhancement or the improvement of programs, activities or services. Permanent staff costs are ineligible. In all cases, applicants must identify a relationship between proposed Celebrate Ontario 2009 expenses and project outcomes.

• Is on-site signage for festivals and events eligible for Celebrate Ontario 2009 funding?

Yes, as long as the on-site signage costs are linked to an enhancement or the improvement of programs, activities or services. In all cases, applicants must identify a relationship between proposed Celebrate Ontario 2009 expenses and project outcomes.

• If in an effort to improve overall programming, a festival or event contracted with a firm to survey visitors regarding their festival or event experience, would that be an eligible Celebrate Ontario 2009 enhancement expense (not the main expense, but as part of an overall application)?

Celebrate Ontario 2009 provides funding for enhancements to programming for festivals and events. While the tracking of festival and event results is important to ongoing development, your proposal must demonstrate an enhancement to your festival or event, and these tracking services must support that enhancement.

• Are agencies and attractions of the Government of Ontario eligible for Celebrate Ontario 2009 funding?

Yes.

• Are Ontario Provincial Parks administered by the Ministry of Natural Resources eligible for Celebrate Ontario 2009 funding?

Yes.

• Are one-time festivals and events eligible for Celebrate Ontario 2009 funding?

No.