Nothing to celebrate locally after Celebrate Ontario funding announced

Ontario is investing $15.3 million to support 200 festivals and events across the province as a part of the Celebrate Ontario program, although there’s no funding to celebrate locally.

The list of festivals and events receiving funding does not include any in the North Bay area.

Eight events in Sudbury received funding, including $80,000 for the 2017 Laugh Out Loud Sudbury Comedy Festival and $84,000 for the Cinefest Sudbury International Film Festival.

Councillor Jeff Serran sits on the Summer in the Park Committee says it’s disappointing news for North Bay.

He says “I think Sudbury puts on some great festivals, but there are more communities in northern Ontario than just that area.”

Serran says the committee will be meeting to find out how to move forward.

He says the committee was hopeful they would receive some funding for this year’s festival.

He says “we knew it wasn’t 100-percent one way or the other, but it’s discouraging.”

Serran says they still plan on having an amazing event.