SUDBURY – The Ontario government is providing more than $1.3 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to three economic development projects to build a theatre venue, community centre and trail in the Sudbury region. This investment is building a stronger Ontario by creating good-paying jobs, supporting critical infrastructure and improving quality of life in Northern Ontario.
“Through targeted investments, our government is increasing the Sudbury region’s economic prospects,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry. “We are keeping Sudbury and surrounding communities current and thriving to successfully compete in today’s business and tourism climates.”
Projects receiving NOHFC funding include:
- $750,000 for YES Theatre to build the YES Theatre Refettorio – a 180-seat, state-of-the-art outdoor performance venue – on a downtown vacant lot in Sudbury
- $502,500 for Kivi Park Community Foundation to create a single network of trails by completing a 15.9-kilometre multi-use trail expansion around Crowley Lake and Linton Lake in Sudbury
- $105,395 for the Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario to build the French River Youth, Economic and Community Development Centre, a place to support business growth and start-up, economic development, and professional and community gathering in French River.
The NOHFC promotes economic prosperity across Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects – big and small, rural and urban – that stimulate growth, job creation and skills development. Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $473 million in 4,244 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $1.5 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 6,600 jobs.
Quick Facts
- In 2021, the Ontario government launched new and improved NOHFC programs that support more projects in rural northern communities and make it easier for more people and businesses to apply. The programs target existing and emerging markets, provide more work opportunities for Indigenous people and address the skilled labour shortage in the North.
Quotes
“This tremendous support from the Ontario government will help us realize the incredible dream that is the YES Theatre Refettorio. When I began YES Theatre, there was very little existing infrastructure in our community that specifically helped emerging artists, work in its infancy or artists wanting to throw ideas at the wall. This space will help us fill that void. The Refettorio will be a communal dining hall for the soul, a place that celebrates our downtown community and creates space for collaborations between all artists and arts organizations in our city. We can’t wait to welcome you.”
– Alessandro Costantini
Artistic Director, YES Theatre
“The Crowley Lake expansion will completely transform Kivi Park into a world-class outdoor recreation facility. The extension of hiking trails, access to more amazing lookouts and longer, more beautiful ski trails will ensure there is something for everyone. This expansion was part of the original vision and a project that we have been working on for a long time. Its is so exciting to now have the funding to make our vision a reality.”
– Kerry Lamarche
Executive Director, Kivi Park Community Foundation
“The Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario offers the highest quality French-language public education in fourteen elementary schools and eight secondary schools in the communities of Markstay, Noëlville, Sudbury, Blind River, Elliot Lake, Sault Ste. Marie, Wawa, Dubreuilville, Marathon, Manitouwadge and Longlac. Financial assistance from the Government of Ontario has helped us convert school spaces at the École secondaire de la Rivière-des-Français in Noëlville into spaces for our community partners. This project has allowed three community organizations to set up in our school.”
– Alain Gélinas
Superintendent of Affairs, Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario
Source Province of Ontario
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