On October 7, Ottawa Tourism announced support for 55 tourism businesses and organizations to recover from the pandemic and prepare for future growth. The Tourism Relief Fund delivered $5.5 million from the Government of Canada, which Ottawa Tourism then distributed to each business to help them welcome back visitors, recover from the pandemic, and create jobs.
“The Canadian tourism sector continues to be one of the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated Randy Boissonnault, tourism minister and associate finance minister. “We will work with businesses and organizations through these challenging times, ensuring they get support to innovate in their products and services as well as to grow and thrive, all while keeping safety as the top priority. The Tourism Relief Fund helps businesses adapt to welcome back guests safely. It also feeds into a broader strategy to help the sector recover from the pandemic and build an economy that works for everyone. The Canadian economy will not fully recover until our tourism sector recovers.”
The Commission de la zone d’amélioration commerciale de Hawkesbury received $100,000 to develop a project celebrating Hawkesbury’s francophone and bilingual heritage, including revitalization, local historical and anecdotal signage, and integrating local art downtown.
The Hawkesbury Chamber of Commerce received $100,000 for the redevelopment of the Place des Pionniers Park to include an outdoor bistro-style dining space and tourism welcome plaza.
Green Beaver received $100,000 to create a new visitor experience to draw visitors into Hawkesbury, including a cheese tasting and storytelling exhibit to highlight the region’s rich heritage and unique bilingual culture.
The Association canadienne-française de l’Ontario de Prescott et Russell received $100,000 to revitalize the Parc de la Confédération’s on Chenail Island. It will include a gazebo structure with illumination and animation.
The Township of Alfred and Plantagenet received $100,000 to create a better visitor experience by upgrading and retrofitting marina infrastructure, including adding washrooms and building a walking trail system along the Ottawa River.
Beau’s Brewery in Vankleek Hill received $100,000 to redevelop its warehouse into a tasting room and event space to host tours highlighting products of local drink producers.
The Vankleek Hill Vineyard received $100,000 to upgrade its facilities, including expanding its indoor tasting space, constructing a yurt glamping experience, and building gender-neutral bathrooms to allow for operation year-round.
Popsilos in Vankleek Hill received $100,000 to create new silo artwork and repair existing artwork that has degraded over time.
The Vankleek Hill Business and Merchant Association received $100,000 to modernize and relocate its tourism information centre to a new, permanent location, and to create self-guided historic tours of the village.
The Windsor Tavern in Vankleek Hill received $75,000 to renovate a heritage building with energy-efficient upgrades, as well as expand its live music space for improved performances.
The St-Albert Fromagerie received $100,000 to upgrade and renovate the observation floor, adding a virtual tour of the factory’s story and production processes.
The Prescott and Russell Recreational Trail Corporation received $100,000 to implement bicycle and e-bike rental services along the trail.
Hammond Hill received $93,500 to construct a lake, a beach hut, gazebos, seating areas, and trails throughout the property.
