Markham Village Festival Corporation receives $100,000 from RTO6/Central Counties Tourism through FedDev
Ontario to attract visitors and support future growth

June 17-18, 2022 Markham, Ontario

The tourism sector is vital to the economy and jobs in Markham and York Region. As a recipient of Government of
Canada funding, the Markham Village Music Festival was able to attract more visitors. This had a positive
economic impact for our local economy, especially the businesses on Main Street Markham. This ensured our
success going forward with this annual Festival.

Markham Village Music Festival received a non-repayable contribution of $100,000 from RT06/Central Counties
Tourism to attract more visitors by upgrading festival staging and being able to showcase Sloan, a well-known
group. This is part of the Government of Canada’s Tourism Relief Fund, delivered by the Federal Economic
Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). RTO6 received $8.65 million from FedDev Ontario
to help local tourism organizations and businesses safely welcome back visitors, recover from the impacts of the
pandemic and prepare for future growth.

This investment will help Markham Village Music Festival adapt and recover to attract new visitors and drive
economic growth in York Region.

QUOTES

“Our government is happy to invest $78 million through the Tourism Relief Fund to help communities across
southern Ontario rejuvenate local tourist attractions. With this funding, southern Ontario’s Regional Tourism
Organizations and Indigenous Tourism Ontario are providing hundreds of local businesses and organizations with
the support they need to create jobs, attract more visitors and grow local economies, now and into the future.”

- The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for
Southern Ontario

“Markham has many amazing events and attractions—and the Markham Village Music Festival is one of them.
Our government is proud to provide them with support. Having events like these, where we can come together,
enjoy music and support local businesses, is vital to our communities.”

- Hon. Helena Jaczek, Member of Parliament for Markham-Stouffville

“The very generous support the Markham Village Music Festival received from the Government of Canada,
through FedDev Ontario and Central Counties Tourism, gave the Festival the opportunity to have five stages of
entertainment on the street featuring 72 performances. Plus, the grant enabled us to bring in a headliner, Sloan,
and upgrade our staging and lighting. As a result, our two-day festival attracted more than 26,000 people. This
would not have been possible without the financial support of FedDev Ontario.”

- Judi McIntyre, Past Chair of the Markham Village Music Festival

“The visitor economy creates thriving, vibrant communities across Ontario. Visitors bring new money into a
community and for many businesses in York, Durham and Headwaters, these additional revenues can mean the
difference between staying solvent and having to shutter their doors forever. Central Counties Tourism applauds
the Government of Canada for recognizing the importance of growing our collective capacity to welcome and
entertain visitors. Its investment in tourism is helping municipalities and individual businesses build compelling
destinations that will attract visitors and residents alike. The economic impact from the Tourism Relief Fund will be
felt for years.”

- Chuck Thibeault, Executive Director, Central Counties Tourism

QUICK FACTS

• The Markham Village Music Festival is now in its 46
th year and is an annual event on Main Street Markham
(Markham Road north of Highway 7) on the third weekend in June. The Festival features five stages of
entertainment (music and dance), craft and food vendors, a farmers’ market, children’s area and more. In
2022, the Festival attracted more than 26,000 people for the two days.
• Central Counties Tourism is the provincially-funded not-for-profit dedicated to developing, supporting and
promoting tourism in Durham Region, York Region and the Headwaters Tourism Region. Since its inception,
staff have assisted dozens of municipalities through destination development and hundreds of tourism related
businesses grow their capacity, strengthening the visitor economy in the region.
• The Government of Canada’s $500-million Tourism Relief Fund is helping tourism-oriented businesses and
organizations recover from the pandemic and prepare for future growth. FedDev Ontario is delivering nearly
$120 million of the Tourism Relief Fund across southern Ontario.

ASSOCIATED LINKS

Markhamfestival.com
https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/black-entrepreneurship-program/en/ecosystem-fundCentralCounties.ca
FedDev Ontario
Tourism Relief Fund (TRF)

About Markham Village Music Festival
Founded in 1978, the non-profit Festival is organized by community volunteers and runs the third weekend in
June. Visit www.markhamfestival.com for more information.

About RTO6/Central Counties Tourism

Central Counties Tourism is the provincially-funded not-for-profit dedicated to developing, supporting and
promoting tourism in Durham Region, York Region and the Headwaters Tourism Region. Visit
www.centralcounties.ca for more information.

About FedDev Ontario

For 13 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the
southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth
and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be
seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing
revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about
the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario
Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.