Locals and visitors from around the world will have a variety of festivals, contests and shows to choose from in communities around B.C. over the coming year, with support from B.C.’s Tourism Events Program.

“Sports, music and festival fans will be inspired through the many events taking place all across the province during the upcoming year,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. “Not only do these events and festivals give people fun things to do close to home, they draw new visitors to B.C. and help support tourism economies in cities and towns all around the province.”

The latest round of the Tourism Events Program is providing nearly $3 million for 45 events taking place throughout the province between October 2019 and September 2020. The program supplements event marketing to encourage more people to travel to B.C. communities and increase awareness of what’s happening in the province.

“We’re lucky to have so many world-class events that draw in visitors and make life more exciting for people on Vancouver Island,” said Mitzi Dean, MLA for Esquimalt-Metchosin. “Our government is proud to support these events and, by extension, our local economy.”

The events on Vancouver Island include:

• 2020 Pan Am Cross Country Cup and Festival — this international cross country running competition makes its North American debut in Langford between Feb. 27 and March 1, 2020. Funding: $10,000
• Canadian Francophone Games 2020 — Victoria will host one of the largest francophone youth gatherings in Canada, with more than 90 competitions over the course of five days. Funding: $200,000
• Major League Triathlon — teams from across North America will come to Victoria to participate in a weekend endurance event featuring triathlon racing, cycling and a festival. Funding: $10,000
• TD Victoria International JazzFest — the longest running multi-day professional music festival serving audiences on Vancouver Island, happening June 19-28, 2020. Funding: $18,000
• Vancouver Island Blues Bash — featuring local, international and regional blues and R&B artists/groups in both free-to-the-public and ticketed performances in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. Funding: $10,000

Applications for the Tourism Events Program are accepted twice a year. The current application window is open until Oct. 31, 2019, for events taking place between May 1, 2020 and April 30, 2021.

Interested groups can learn more here: http://ow.ly/zJBZ50wyMR3

Quick Facts:

• In 2018, the Government of British Columbia provided $2.3 million to support 45 events and festivals in B.C. communities through the Tourism Events Program. 
• Tourism is an economic driver for B.C. In 2017, the industry:
  • generated more than $18.4 billion in revenue.
  • contributed $9 billion in added value to the province’s gross domestic product – an increase of 6.7% over the previous year.
• More than 138,000 people work in B.C.’s tourism industry. 
• In 2018, B.C. welcomed 6.1 million international visitors, an increase of 6.4% from 2017.