Government of Canada Supports Free Acton Family Event through the Tourism Relief Fund

HALTON HILLS, ON – The Acton Solstice Festival presented by The Department of Illumination this Sunday, December 18^th takes place from 4 to 7 p.m. at Prospect Park. As the year winds to a close, residents are invited to bundle up for a night walk in the park with a festive community procession featuring giant puppets, Juno award-winning musician Richard Underhill and the Kensington Horns, illuminated circus artists from Trellis Arts and glowing backdrops to take the perfect holiday selfie and more. The event is family friendly and free. The public is invited to help light up the night by coming decked out in their brightest accessories to join in the fun.

The Downtown Acton BIA received a non-repayable contribution of $100,000 from Hamilton Halton Brant Regional Tourism Association (RTO3) to attract visitors and raise awareness to area. This is part of the Government of Canada’s Tourism Relief Fund, delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). RTO3 received $5 million from FedDev Ontario to help 66 local tourism organizations and businesses safely welcome back visitors, recover from the impacts of the pandemic and prepare for future growth.

“Our government is happy to invest $78 million through the Tourism Relief Fund to help communities across southern Ontario rejuvenate local tourist attractions,” said the Honorable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario. “With this funding, southern Ontario’s Regional Tourism Organizations and Indigenous Tourism Ontario are providing hundreds of local businesses and organizations with the support they need to create jobs, attract more visitors and grow local economies, now and into the future.”

The Downtown Acton BIA partnered with the Town on a project called Art Around Acton. This project created seven temporary and permanent public art activations and cultural events between July and December 2022 to raise its profile and draw people into the downtown.

Art Around Acton engaged local, regional, and provincial artists and businesses. Activations included artist painted picnic tables on patios at downtown restaurants, a six-week music series at the Acton Farmer’s Market, a 10-week artist in residence program at the Acton Farmer’s Market, an artist-designed vinyl-wrapped utility box, outdoor hanging banners featuring the work of a local artist, and storefront window installations featuring the work of local artists.

“The Downtown Acton BIA is grateful for the support from Hamilton Halton Brant Regional Tourism Association and FedDev Ontario,” said Acton BIA Chair Monica Galway. “It’s been wonderful having these installations and events happen. They have brought new energy to the downtown and have been enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. We are looking forward to building on the success of this project,” she continued.

“Public art adds to the vibrancy of our communities. The Town was thrilled to partner with the Downtown Acton BIA to leverage this funding to provide positive and creative experiences to everyone visiting Downtown Acton,” said Mayor Ann Lawlor.

This investment will help Downtown Acton adapt and recover to attract new visitors and drive economic growth in the Town of Halton Hills.

For additional information visit https://www.visithaltonhills.ca/artaroundacton

About the Town of Halton Hills

The Town of Halton Hills, with a population of approximately 60,000, consists of two urban centres, Georgetown and Acton, the Halton Hills Premier Gateway employment area, three hamlets – Glen Williams, Stewarttown and Norval – and several smaller settlements. Halton Hills has long been recognized for its natural beauty, active agricultural community, high quality of life and proximity to major centres, including Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto.  The Town is ranked as one of the top small communities in Canada by a national magazine.

Visit the Town's website 

About the Downtown Acton Business Improvement Area (BIA)

Established in 1977, the Downtown Acton BIA works to distinguish Acton as a premier shopping, dining, and cultural destination in the Town of Halton Hills. The BIA aims to ensure a positive experience for everyone in the downtown area and raises community interest and pride through community festivals and events programming.

Visit downtownacton.ca 

Hamilton Halton Brant Regional Tourism Association

Hamilton Halton Brant Regional Tourism Association is an independent, industry-led, not-for-profit organization, responsible for working with tourism partners to enhance and grow this region's tourism products and marketing activities, with the intent of increasing visitors, generating more economic activity, creating more tourism jobs and sustainability, capturing unique product clusters and integrating existing brands and partnerships. 

Learn more about the organization via www.hamiltonhaltonbrant.com.

Explore all there is to do in the region via www.theheartofontario.com.

Stay connected via Twitter, Instagram, Facebook.

About FedDev Ontario

For 13 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 pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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