NDP MLAs say funding will help host events like Rifflandia in Victoria

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VICTORIA – New Democrat MLAs Grace Lore and Rob Fleming are announcing recipients of provincial funding to help make sure local fairs, festivals and other events continue throughout 2023 and 2024.

“Festivals and fairs bring people together, they create joy, and build community,” said Grace Lore, MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill. “I’m excited that we’re supporting a wide variety of events to help us connect and celebrate everything our community has to offer.”

In Victoria, 77 events are receiving over $2 million in funding, including $250,000 for Rifflandia Festival, $100,200 for the Royal Victoria Marathon, and $41,500 for the Victoria Fringe Festival.

This investment into local events is part of the $30 million in one-time grants the province pledged for Fairs, Festivals, and Events to continue the recovery of a vibrant and strong tourism industry and support our innovative arts industry in B.C.

“Summer in Victoria is the perfect time to reconnect with friends, neighbours and community members at local events,” said Rob Fleming, MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake. “We are making sure that community events have the funding they need so that people can enjoy the great activities they missed out on in recent years due to the pandemic.”

This builds upon the success of the BC Fairs, Festivals and Events Program funding in 2021, which provided one-time grants for events to safely return after facing the covid-19 pandemic. These grants for 2023 will support a range of events in locations all over B.C., and associated event costs.

Learn More:

https://news.gov.bc.ca/28246

Backgrounder: https://www2.qa.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/tourism-immigration/tourism-resources/tourism-funding-programs/fairs-festivals-events-fund