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B.C. to spend up to $5 million to support tourism events

Application process launched today for events that take place after September
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The Honda Celebration of Light, which has received some funding in the past, is set to take place in late July.

The B.C. government is relaunching a program to help fund tourism events with up to $5 million in new money. 

Starting today, tourism-event organizers can submit funding applications for up to 10 per cent of their events' budgets. The events must take place sometime between October 1 and September 30, 2023. The government is accepting applications until May 31.

The program had operated pre-pandemic, but was paused when health orders banned large events.

Some events that previously obtained funding were:
• The Surf Canada National Championships and Canadian Olympic Trials, which saw the selection of Canadian athletes for Tokyo 2020, where surfing made its Olympic debut;

• Women Deliver 2019 Culture Night, which showcased B.C.'s culture and entertainment at the world's largest conference on gender equality and the health, rights and well-being of girls and women;

• Honda Celebration of Lights in Vancouver, which is set for late July, generates an estimated $170 million in economic activity and has attracted crowds estimated at more than 1.4 million;

• Sunfest Country Music Festival in Lake Cowichan, which attracted thousands of music fans from all over the world; and

• Crankworx Whistler, which brought together the best athletes in the mountain bike community to compete in a variety of elite competitions.