The province’s Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries has announced $690,000 in funding for various arts and tourism organizations in Nipissing that play an important role in the community.

The list includes $282,000 for the North Bay and District Multi Cultural Centre, $106,000 for the North Bay Public Library, $74,000 for the Amelia Rising Sexual Assault Centre of Nipissing and $65,000 for the Brain Injury Association of North Bay and area.

Minister Lisa MacLeod says these investments will support these organizations impacted by COVID-19.

“If we’re not prepared to step up and support a long standing festival or a community museum or a public library today where will we be in 18 months? The Ontario that we want to see recover from COVID-19 requires these investments,” she says.

Also receiving funds are $36,000 for the Mattawa Women’s Resource Centre and $22,000 for the North Bay Museum. As well, she announced $20,000 to the Dionne Quints Museum for an interpretive garden.

She says the request came from the family’s nephew and the chair of the museum.

“Please don’t worry anymore and please convey to your living aunts that the Ontario government is there for them now when they weren’t before. Thank you for showing me what needed to be seen,” MacLeod says.

Also, $25,000 has been announced for area festivals.

$18,000 goes to the Smoke’N’Spurs Festival, $3,700 to Mattawa Voyageur Days and $3,500 to the Bay Block Party.

(photo by station staff)

Filed under: dionne-quints-home, lisa-macleod, provincial-funding