DRYDEN – The Ontario government is providing $204,848 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to The Clever Corvid Art and Art Workshops with Rhonda Beckman, in Dryden. This investment will create employment, attract more tourists, and foster artistic and cultural activities in the Northwest.

“By launching new and improved NOHFC programs, our government is helping more businesses access the supports they need to expand operations here in Dryden and across the North,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development and Member of Provincial Parliament for Kenora-Rainy River. “The Clever Corvid is a sought-after cultural and tourism destination that will directly contribute to our regional economy.”

The Clever Corvid was a home-based business located in Red Lake, offering art workshops and selling art pieces. In order to expand, the company purchased land in Dryden and is using NOHFC funding to build access roads, parking, and a log structure – called The Birdhouse Artist Retreat and Workshop Studio – on the property, as well as install highway signage.

“The space will be a catalyst for cultural and educational tourism, where one is submersed in the beauty that only Northwestern Ontario can provide,” said Rhonda Beckman, Owner, The Clever Corvid Art and Art Workshops with Rhonda Beckman. “In bringing The Birdhouse to Dryden, the goal is to assist the local economy through various services such as the food and accommodation sector, hiring staff for various positions, and giving artists well-deserved recognition for their artistic abilities.”

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 Fact

• 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 Invest North Program boosts economic growth and attracts more investment by supporting business development, expansion and innovation.

Media Contacts

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

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