Stakeholders benefitting from federal funding

CTV's Bob Bellacicco shows how tourism funding aims to draw more visitors to the city's hidden gems. CTV Windsor’s Bob Bellacicco explains.

The federal government is acknowledging our region as one to promote tourism.

“All eyes are on you,” said Ruby Sahota, the minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for southern Ontario, or FedDev, who was at the Multicultural Council (MCC) of Windsor and Essex County to announce $1.4 million of funding for 10 projects in Ontario through the Tourism Growth Program.

Of the 10 projects, six are here in our region.

“That just shows there’s a special uniqueness to this area,” Sahota told an excited gathering at the MCC.

The Canadian Transportation Museum and Heritage Village received $100,000, as did the Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary. The Windsor International Film Festival got $350,000 while the Town of Tecumseh received $35,000.

The MCC was given $45,000 as the organization celebrates 50 years in 2025.

“We are looking to make a loud noise about 50th anniversary of carousel and this money will help us do that for sure,” said Executive Director Fred Francis, who plans to use the money to spread the word about the Carrousel of the Nations.

“Maybe we want to make sure that everyone knows about it outside of Windsor, Essex. Maybe we want to make sure people know about it across the border with our American friends,” he said.

Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island received $200,000 and plan to ramp up cycle tourism through partnerships with the Trans-Canada trail and the Great Waterfront Trail.

“We’re going to do market readiness workshops. We’re also going to help with wayfinding signage so it’s going to be a great trail system and it’s going to be one that we’re going to be able to promote to cycle tourists from the long haul market,” said TWEPI CEO Gordon Orr.

Work has already begun with the Gordie Howe International Bridge coming online later this year.

Orr and his team are looking at how our region and businesses can benefit from the bridge’s multiuse trail, “We know that there will be more cycle tourists coming from outside of market, which has a huge injection of economic benefit for our community.”

The largest investment was made in the Windsor International Film Festival. Two-thirds of the money was used last year for year-round programming and the anniversary festival. The remaining third will again help with yearly programming and more.

“We have about 50 nights of the year that we were doing at the Capital Theater, including actually this week, that the community can enjoy,” Georgie told CTV News. “We have WIFF Under the Stars coming up this summer so it’s really, really impactful to receive this type of support from the Government of Canada.