The Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization (OHTO) is pleased to acknowledge the financial contribution from the Government of Canada, received through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), to increase visitation and support tourism growth in the Ontario’s Highlands’ region.

On August 7, 2024, Mark Gerretsen, Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands, on behalf of the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario, announced an investment of over $3.7 million for 27 organizations across Eastern Ontario that are diversifying their offerings and contributing to attracting new visitors to the region.

As a part of this announcement, OHTO received funding towards two regional projects, which will support the expansion of its popular Ride the Highlands motorcycle program as well as the development of a new Eastern Ontario Rail Trail Loop.

Included in the announcement, OHTO congratulates those tourism operators and organizations within the Ontario’s Highlands region. These recipients include:

  • Fort Treehouse Company Inc. ($200,000) - Haliburton Highlands
  • Friends of Bon Echo Park ($180,000) - Lennox & Addington County
  • Haliburton Sculpture Forest ($65,000) - Haliburton Highlands
  • Municipality of Mississippi Mills ($20,000) - Lanark County
  • Municipality of Tweed ($80,000) - Hastings County
  • Municipality of Hastings Highlands ($75,000) – Hastings County
  • Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario ($150,000) - Lanark County
  • Reset ($80,000) - Ottawa Valley
  • Tweed & Company Theatre ($90,000) - Hastings County
  • Ginawaydaganuc Village ($239,172) - Lanark County
  • WBFIT Indigenous Centre ($200,000) - Lanark County

“Eastern Ontario and the Ontario’s Highlands region offers natural beauty with a rich heritage to the many tourists who visit each year,” said the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). “The Government of Canada is committed to supporting Canadian tourism experiences as they expand their offerings and welcome visitors to their must-see attractions across the region.”

“The Tourism Growth Program continues to support wonderful organizations across our region, including the Ontario’s Highlands region,” said Mark Gerretsen, Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands. “The 27 projects I announced will enhance their offerings and draw more visitors to the region, resulting in spillover benefits for our communities.”

A non-repayable contribution of $250,000 was received to expand motorcycle tourism and routes within Ontario’s Highlands. This project will lead to the development and marketing of four new motorcycle routes in the region, including three adventure/gravel routes. This expansion of Ride the Highlands program will further build on the region’s reputation as a premier motorcycle destination drawing visitors from across Ontario, the United States and Quebec.

In partnership with the Counties for Renfrew, Frontenac and Lanark, OHTO received an additional non-repayable contribution of $78,235 that leverages the recent capital investments made by local municipalities into a 350-kilometre off-road loop of rail trails. Through this project, a market readiness assessment of the trails will be conducted while also supporting the development of partnerships, policies, investments and marketing to support a new signature trail experience.

“We are very excited about the continued investment in our region through FedDev Ontario. Our rural communities depend on tourism and the economic, social and cultural benefits that come with developing our destination,” said Nicole Whiting, Executive Director for OHTO. “For more than a decade, OHTO has been privileged to work with all levels of government to grow tourism within the region in partnership and alignment with the businesses and residents who make Ontario’s Highlands so special. We look forward to building on the outcomes from these projects as we continue to strengthen our communities through tourism.”

For more information on the Ride the Highlands program, contact:
Luisa Sorrentino
Marketing Director, OHTO
luisa.sorrentino@ohto.ca

For more information on the Eastern Ontario Rail Trail Loop project, contact:
Kasey Rogerson
Director of Industry Development, OHTO
kasey.rogerson@ohto.ca

About OHTO
Ontario's Highlands Tourism Organization (OHTO) is a not-for-profit organization mandated and funded by the province of Ontario to support and grow tourism within the counties of Haliburton, Lanark, and Renfrew and portions of Frontenac, Hastings, and Lennox and Addington. Find out more at www.ohto.ca.  

About FedDev Ontario
For 15 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our investment profiles, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Media Contacts:
Luisa Sorrentino
Marketing Director
613-629-6486 x202
luisa.sorrentino@ohto.ca

Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario 
edward.hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca

Marketing