#mississauga @SherefSabawyPC @ninatangri @RudyCuzzetto @NatKusendova @DeepakAnandMPP
Sheref Sabawy, MPP for Mississauga-Erin Mills, on Friday announced three Mississauga cultural organizations will receive $160,000 through the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund (OCAF) announced earlier today by The Honourable Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries.
“Mississauga’s arts and culture organizations are important to the local economy,” Sheref Sabawy, MPP for Mississauga-Erin Mills. “This support from the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund will help Mississauga continue to provide accessible programming in our community and develop new ways for residents to experience culture right here in our own backyard.”
Through this OCAF investment, the government is supporting Mississauga organizations as they develop, promote and present tourism and culture in our economic fabric.
“Ontario’s heritage, sport, tourism, and culture industries were among the first and hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic – and will take the longest to recover,” said Minister MacLeod. “To support the province’s economic and social recovery, it is critical that our government continues to support organizations that are finding new ways to engage with and reconnect Ontarians while preserving jobs and supporting local economies. Our investments through the OCAF program continue to have spectacular cultural and economic benefits that help to strengthen our culture and tourism sectors in local communities across the province.”
“It has been challenging 15 months for Ontario’s tourism sector,” said Nina Tangri, MPP for Mississauga Streetsville. “This new funding to local Mississauga organizations will provide much-needed support for many of them and help them once again be part of the visitor experience. We appreciate Minister MacLeod’s unwavering support for the tourism industry and hope that the industry is best placed to lead our province’s economic recovery.”
“The volunteers at MonstrARTity have worked tirelessly to enrich the lives of people in our community, including some of our most vulnerable, at a very difficult time for everyone,” said Rudy Cuzzetto, MPP for Mississauga-Lakeshore. “Through the Cultural Attractions Fund, our government is ensuring that they will be able to safely present a hybrid 10-year anniversary celebration of the Bollywood Monster Mashup, now the largest South Asian festival in Canada, with limited attendance at Mississauga Celebration Square, and a wide range of virtual activities.”
“I am grateful to the Minister and her team for their work in supporting arts and culture in Mississauga East-Cooksville” said Kaleed Rasheed, MPP for Mississauga East-Cooksville. “Ontario’s cultural and arts diversity is what makes this such a special province to grow up, live and work. Supporting this industry is vital to maintaining and celebrating the cultural cornerstone of our province.”
“Our lives have been completely overturned by the pandemic and as a community, we need our cultural organizations to provide ways to reclaim some semblance of normalcy,” Said Deepak Anand, MPP for Mississauga Malton. “Carassauga is such an essential part of our cultural life in Mississauga and in my riding and I am pleased that the government is supporting them to help the community recover from COVID-19”.
“There’s no question that Ontario’s cultural institutions have been among those hardest hit by the pandemic,” said Natalia Kusendova, MPP for Mississauga Centre. “Under Minister MacLeod’s leadership, I’m incredibly proud that our government is making such a significant investment into several Mississauga organizations. We are a diverse and culturally rich city, and I know that this funding will go a long way in strengthening these groups as we turn the page on COVID-19.”
The Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund (OCAF) has pivoted to support a variety of online events and experiences, ensuring culture and tourism experiences remain accessible across the province during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund program offers an impressive return on the province’s investment. The funds are provided in the form of partially repayable loans and repayment of these funds help support future projects. This means that repayments replenish the fund and allow OCAF to invest in even more projects.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.