BURNABY – New Democrat MLAs Anne Kang, Katrina Chen, Janet Routledge, and Raj Chouhan are announcing recipients of provincial funding to help make sure local fairs, festivals and other events continue throughout 2023 and 2024.
“Burnaby’s vibrant culture shines at our many festivals and events each year,” said Anne Kang, MLA for Burnaby-Deer Lake. “By supporting local events like Burnaby’s very own Swahili Week, the African Soccer Tournament and Cultural Festival, as well as Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival, we’re creating space for our community to come together.”
In Burnaby, 38 events are receiving a total of $826,900, including $29,100 for the Bubble Tea Festival.
“Fairs, festivals, and events bring together our diverse, intergenerational community,” said Katrina Chen, MLA for Burnaby-Lougheed. “New funding for local events like Streetfest at UniverCity will help us celebrate Burnaby’s unique culture for years to come.”
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.
“People in our community benefit from having a wide variety of cultural events in their own city, such as the annual Hats Off Days,” said Janet Routledge, MLA for Burnaby North. “I am excited that our government is supporting these amazing events and I look forward to seeing everyone there!”
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
A backgrounder with event locations and funding information follows: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/tourism-immigration/tourism-resources/tourism-funding-programs/fairs-festivals-events-fund
QUOTE:
“Event and festival organizers have endured some hardships in recent years, leaving us with fewer chances to celebrate the diversity around us,” said Raj Chouhan, MLA for Burnaby-Edmonds. “With new funding for organizations like the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre, we are helping ensure these events carry on, so that we can come together.”