Destination Northern Ontario and the Ontario Tourism Innovation Lab have announced a new grant for Northeastern Ontario.
“The Spark program is for entrepreneurs who have an innovative idea,” Karen Peacock, the Senior Coordinator for Tourism Excellence North explained. “People make an application and then they will pitch their idea at the Northern Ontario Tourism Summit in Timmins in November.”
Following the presentations at the summit, those who are chosen to receive funding will be granted $3,000. After that, they will be partnered with a mentor who will help guide them in developing a product or experience that was initially pitched. Kind of like Dragon’s Den for tourism.
“We have a lot to be proud of in Northern Ontario,” Peacock stated. “Tourism has a real place to grow in Northern Ontario. I think the International Plowing Match is a huge example of that, and how we as northerners can come together and showcase what we have to offer.”
The Ontario Tourism Innovation Lab is a non-profit initiative created to find, foster and support new tourism ideas, experiences and partnerships, and to build a community of tourism innovators, idea makers and entrepreneurs in Ontario with the Spark program launching as a pilot in Windsor in 2018.
The Spark program is currently accepting applicants.
