Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario · Contribution program
Major Festivals and Events Support Initiative (MFESI)
Support major festivals and events to mitigate risks of possible closure, offer alternative activities in light of constraints imposed by the pandemic and position themselves for the future.
- Total value
- $78.1M
- Agreements
- 11
- Apr 2021 to Apr 2021
- Median agreement
- $7M
- Typical range
- $5M–$9.6M
- the middle half of agreements
Federal grants and contributions, agreements starting Jan 2006 to Oct 2026, each counted once at its latest amended value. Source: Treasury Board proactive disclosure, published October 11, 2026.
See every record for this program on the government’s search. How to apply: look up the program on Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario’s website.
Who got it
Organizations with the most funding under this program.
By year
Agreements by the year they started.
Show the numbers
| Year | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11 | $78.1M |
By province
Per resident: the total over the whole window divided by the population on 1 July 2026 (Statistics Canada, table 17-10-0009-01). Agreements are placed by the recipient’s address, so a national organization’s funding counts where its office is.
| Province or territory | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 11 | $78.1M |
By type of recipient
As the department classified the recipient.
| Recipient type | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Not-for-profit organizations and charities | 10 | $75M |
| For-profit organizations | 1 | $3.1M |
Industries funded
Where the department recorded an industry code (NAICS). Most agreements have none.
| Industry group | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Promoters (presenters) of performing arts, sports and similar events | 5 | $38.2M |
| Motion picture and video industries | 1 | $10M |
Latest agreements
| Start | Recipient | What for | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto International Film Festival, Inc.Contribution · Apr 2021 | Contribution | $10,000,000 | |
| The Stratford Shakespearean Festival of CanadaContribution · Apr 2021 | Contribution | $10,000,000 | |
| Shaw Festival Theatre, CanadaContribution · Apr 2021 | Contribution | $6,086,800 | |
| Royal Canadian Golf AssociationContribution · Apr 2021 | Contribution | $4,386,833 | |
| Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Association Of CanadaContribution · Apr 2021 | Contribution | $5,041,112 | |
| Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Association Of CanadaContribution · Apr 2021 | Contribution | $5,052,177 | |
| Ottawa BluesfestContribution · Apr 2021 | Contribution | $9,803,436 | |
| Ottawa BluesfestContribution · Apr 2021 | Contribution | $8,314,165 | |
| Canadian Tennis AssociationContribution · Apr 2021 | Contribution | $9,322,864 | |
| Canadian National Exhibition AssociationContribution · Apr 2021 | Contribution | $7,023,565 | |
| Boots And Hearts Limited PartnershipContribution · Apr 2021 | Contribution | $3,063,026 |