Outaouais en fête excluded

Half a million for three festivals in West Quebec

 

The provincial government announced, grants of $486,000 to three touristic festivals and events in West Quebec, June 17.

Amnesia Rockfest in Montebello, June 23 to 26, received $195,500. The Casino Lac-Leamy Sound of Light held on the shores of the Ottawa River behind the Canadian Museum of History, August 6 to 20, got $74,000. Gatineau’s Festival des Montgolfières, (hot-air balloons) held at the Parc de la Baie, September 1 to 5, will receive $216,500, representing 44% of the total granted by the province.

L’Outaouais en fête, held June 23 to 26 in Aylmer, was not part of the provincial funding. In 2015, its organizers had criticized Québec’s cuts in supporting festivals.

According to the Ministère du Tourisme, “the events retained for financial aid are those that have shown an important tourism performance and have encouraged visitors to prolong their stay in the area. The selected events must also contribute, at national and international levels, to the reputation of Quebec as being a choice (tourism) destination.”

To be eligible to the tourism ministry’s financial aid program, festival and event organizers must submit fully-documented applications and meet the eligibility conditions.  Quebec has not revealed which festivals failed to meet these application requirements.

(LRC / CB)