DRYDEN – The Ontario government is providing $10,389 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to the City of Dryden for enhancements to the Dryden Fall Fest. This investment will boost economic growth, increase tourism, and build a prosperous community in the Northwest.

“The strategic investments our government continues to make through the NOHFC are supporting projects that raise community profiles and promote economic development opportunities across the region,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development and Member of Provincial Parliament for Kenora-Rainy River. “With nearly $10,400, the City of Dryden has brought on new performances and made enhancements that improve the overall visitor experience at the Dryden Fall Fest, and our government is proud to support this.”

The City of Dryden is using NOHFC funding to upgrade signage, update interactive decor, install solar-powered lanterns along the Spirit Walk path and add two new entertainers to this year’s roster. The enhancements will attract more visitors and entice attendees to get more involved in the activites being offered.

Dryden Fall Fest is an annual, month-long festival held in October. It attracts people of all ages from the local and and surrounding areas, including the Kenora-Rainy River and Thunder Bay regions, Manitoba and the United States. To encourage more participation, Dryden Fall Fest sponsors events that run throughout the month of October. The festival includes several banner events and activities that are free, non-ticketed, and hosted outdoors using community spaces.

“With more than 3,000 people coming out to the Dryden Fall Fest thanks to the dedication and hard work of the Dryden Fall Fest Committee, this has become our premier community event in October,” said Jack Harrison, Mayor, City of Dryden. “On behalf of the City, I want to thank the NOHFC for its grant to make this event even more spectacularly successful.”

“Dryden Fall Fest started as a small idea to help improve our community by offering more events and activities,” said Laina Smith, Chair, Dryden Fall Fest. “And only four years later, in 2023, we have experienced huge success, welcoming over 3,000 participants to all our events. The festival could not have grown so exponentially, included so many enhanced elements, and have had the impact it has had on the community without the support of NOHFC.”

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 $717 million in 5,875 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $2.3 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 9,260 jobs.

Quick Facts

• 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.

Additional Resources

• The NOHFC, Northern Development Offices and Small Business Enterprise Centres are available to support northern communities, businesses and other stakeholders in identifying economic development opportunities and assist in accessing government funding programs.
  
• The NOHFC’s Cultural Supports Program showcases Northern Ontario culture, geography and talent through event partnerships and support for the production of films and TV series.

Media Contacts

Curtis Lindsay, Minister’s Office — 437-240-7317 — curtis.lindsay@ontario.ca

Media Desk, Communications Branch — mediadesk.ndm@ontario.ca