SOUND OFF: Safely bringing back our fairs, festivals, and events in 2022
-
Share on Facebook
-
Share on Bluesky
-
Share on X
- Copy Link
Every community across the province has its own unique events that people look forward to each year. Whether it’s an agricultural fair, an arts festival, or a sports tournament, these events bring us together with family, friends, and neighbours and strengthen our community spirit. They also give a boost to local businesses and our tourism industry by drawing visitors into our communities.
Although B.C. is leading Canada’s economic recovery, there is no question that the pandemic has had a serious impact on these events and our tourism industry as a whole. Now that people can once again safely enjoy their local fairs, festivals and events, our government is providing a helping hand to event organizers, with grants that will help cover their costs so they can get back up and running.
This week, we announced $29.55 million in one-time grants will be provided to over 680 local fairs, festivals, and events across the province, to help them safely resume their operations. We heard overwhelmingly from event organizers that grants, not loans, were key to keeping their doors open to the public and workers employed.
Here in Kamloops, we’re supporting a number of returning events, including the Daybreak Rotary Ribfest, Provincial Winter Fair, Kamloops Film Festival, and the Kamloops Powwow, among many others. We’re also helping Kamloops host several sporting events in 2022, including the Canada 55+ Games, the B.C. Men’s Curling Championships, and Scotties B.C. Women’s Curling Championships. In total, 19 events hosted in Kamloops are receiving grants to safely reopen.
