Ontario150 Year in Review

Letter from the Premier

December 2017

A personal message from the Premier

From Thunder Bay to Ottawa to Windsor, Ontario150 has been a fantastic celebration of the 150^th anniversary of our province’s place within Canada, and the diversity that defines us.

In partnership with the federal government, municipalities, community organizations, and not-for-profit groups, Ontario150 created opportunities for communities to explore their heritage and tell their unique stories.

Inspiring festivals brought people together in every corner of this province to celebrate this historic year in a way that was meaningful for them. Rural, urban and northern communities showcased their contributions to Canadian culture, sport and innovation.

This milestone anniversary also provided a strong economic, social and cultural legacy for Ontarians. Through Ontario150, hundreds of community-based initiatives are receiving funding that will build pride in our province. These are investments in people and infrastructure that include renovating, repairing and retrofitting existing community and cultural infrastructure, as well as increasing accessibility, improving safety and maximizing community use.

Ontario150 has been an opportunity to celebrate our past and our present while building a strong and secure foundation for the future. It has been a time to celebrate our shared values, and support initiatives and projects that recognize the people, places and events that make Ontario a global leader in diversity, creativity, innovation, accessibility and inclusion.

Kathleen Wynne
Premier

Letter from the Minister

December 2017

A personal message from the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport

The celebration of Ontario’s 150^th anniversary in 2017 marked a crossroads in our history.

Here was a moment to look back at how far we had come and to celebrate our progress, evaluate our successes as a society, acknowledge our shortcomings, and discuss our aspirations for a brighter future. This vision was the starting point for Ontario150 – the Ontario government’s ambitious plan for commemorating this milestone year. Ontario150 helped Ontarians come together to tell their stories in their own voices and celebrate the qualities and values that define us.

Overall, more than 2,000 events and initiatives excited, engaged, and involved Ontarians, and supported communities in laying the groundwork for strong economic, social and cultural legacies across the province.

Thank you to the many organizations who partnered with us to deliver 28 Signature Initiatives – spectacular productions, ground-breaking programs and year-long events that enthralled visitors to our province and motivated residents of all ages to participate in their communities.

Thank you to Ontario’s tourism and culture agencies and attractions, our hubs for Ontario150 celebrations, for offering such a wide range of new and enhanced programming, events and exhibitions.

To our partner ministries for creating impactful Ontario150 programs that supported government priorities for this landmark year – engaging youth, building stronger communities and advancing reconciliation.

To the hundreds of Ontario150 grant recipients who delivered exceptional sesquicentennial programming through the Community Celebration, Community Capital and the Partnership programs, your dedication and enthusiasm to make a positive impact in your communities was extraordinary.

Thank you to the many people who helped us take another step towards reconciliation through more than 100 events and initiatives that were Indigenous led or focused, and celebrated Indigenous culture, traditions and teachings.

To the thousands of volunteers and the Ontarians who stepped forward to take part with passion and pride and made this a special year for a special place – thank you.

Thank you all for an extraordinary sesquicentennial year!

Eleanor McMahon
Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport

2017 - An extraordinary year

2017 marked the 150^th anniversary of Canada and the Province of Ontario. In both the 2015 and 2016 Ontario Budgets, the Ontario government made a commitment to observe this historic milestone with a year-long commemoration that would honour the past and help chart a course for the future.

The multi-pillar, cross-government Ontario150 program to celebrate and commemorate the sesquicentennial was launched in September 2016, with three overarching themes:

Celebrate! Innovate! Participate!

The Ontario150 program encompassed three application-based funding programs to help communities mark the 150^th. Funding supported celebratory events, infrastructure revitalization and youth-focused projects aimed at engaging Ontarians and encouraging everyone to celebrate!

From a free concert tour to cultural festivals at the North American Indigenous Games, from the single biggest same-day film festival in history to heartwarming citizenship ceremonies, the Ontario150 program surpassed expectations.

While community-building was at the heart of the program, the province’s investment in Ontario150 events and initiatives supported economic growth by stimulating tourism, promoting business development and encouraging our youth.

Overall, Ontario150 supported more than 2,000 events and initiatives that built pride in our province, engaged young people and celebrated the inclusivity, diversity, and innovation that make Ontario such a great place to live.

What did we achieve?

Signature initiatives

Making an impact

The almost 30 Signature Initiatives funded through the Ontario150 program created some of the most memorable experiences of 2017.

All successful projects had regional, national or international impacts, create significant economic, cultural and social legacies, or advance Ontario150 priorities including:

• Celebrate and Showcase Ontario – to recognize Ontario's history, geography and talent and what it means to be an Ontarian
• Youth Engagement – to inspire tomorrow’s learners, leaders and innovators
• Diversity and Inclusion – to engage Ontario’s many diverse communities, including Indigenous, Francophone, ethno-cultural, LGBTQ and persons with disabilities
• Innovation and Economic Development – to stimulate new thinking and models to address community challenges and promote economic growth
• Civic Engagement and Participation – to engage Ontarians in the community-building process and provide opportunities for participation in all aspects of community life

The Signature Initiatives funded through the Ontario150 program created some of the most memorable experiences of 2017.

SESQUI

• $2M invested
• 200+ media sector jobs
• $15M economic impact

List of signature initiatives

• 6 Degrees Citizen Space (Institute for Canadian Citizenship) - civic leaders, including from Indigenous communities, explored the Canadian model of citizenship and inclusion
• Canada on Screen (Toronto International Film Festival) - screenings of 150 essential Canadian films, TV shows and music videos, and virtual reality projects to envision Indigenous life in 150 years
• Celebrate By Bike (Waterfront Generation Trust) - 15 community events to celebrate Ontario’s iconic cycling routes, and educating youth in safe cycling
• Changing the Game - Changing the Conversation (Coaches Association of Ontario) - enhanced training, mentorship and online networking for 250 female coaches
• Confederation Celebration (Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake) - local history musical revue and original play to mark the 225^th anniversary of Ontario's First Parliament
• Davis Cup (Tennis Canada) - giving local youth the chance to enjoy world class play and access donated equipment for years to come
• Expo for Design, Innovation and Technology (Design Exchange) - over 35,000 visitors explored how design, innovation and technology can change the world for the better
• Great Lakes Water Walk (Ecologos) - Indigenous-led walks along Toronto’s waterfront to share reverence for water and promote reconciliation
• Grey Cup Festival (105th Grey Cup Festival Inc.) - free, five-day festival featuring concerts, educational activities and sport activations
• Ice Dragon Boat Festival (Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival) - opening ceremonies and cultural programming at the first ever dragon boat race on ice in North America
• Invictus Games (Canadian International Military Games Corporation) - more than 550 competitors from 17 nations competed in 12 adaptive sports, with 75,000+ enthusiastic spectators
• Lieutenant Governor’s Visionaries Prize (The Walrus Foundation)- thought-provoking solutions to challenges of the next 50 years, such as social cohesion, governance and reconciliation
• Mosaic Stories (Mosaic Institute) - helping young people from communities that have experienced genocide share their stories
• National Canadian Film Day 150 (REEL Canada) - largest single day film festival in history, sharing our stories through nearly 900 events in 250+ Ontario communities
• North American Indigenous Games 2017 (Toronto 2017 NAIG Host Society) - a world-class opening ceremony and cultural festivals to welcome 5,000 young Indigenous athletes
• Ontario150 Bondar Challenge (Roberta Bondar Foundation) - northern speaking tour, photo exhibit and community photo challenge to promote environmental protection
• Ontario Parasport Strong (various) - athlete development, enhanced coaches' training and better opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate in sport
• Ottawa 2017 (Celebrations Ottawa Inc.) - year-long calendar of events with innovative experiences like Kontinuum, La Machine and Canada’s Table boosting tourism
• SESQUI (SESQUI Inc.) - bringing HORIZON, a ground-breaking 360° film experience to thousands of Ontarians through a cinematic dome tour that was exclusive to Ontario
• Tamil Journeys '86 (Canadian Tamil Congress) - a travelling exhibit of one of the precarious boats that brought Tamil refugees to Canada over 30 years ago
• The Breakout Project (Innovate Kingston) - Live-streamed social innovation event, kick-starting projects to improve our planet. 325,000+ hours donated, valued at $16M.
• The World Remembers (The World Remembers) - paying witness to the names of WWI service personnel from Canada and other countries who lost their lives in 1917
• TO Canada with Love (City of Toronto) - various events encouraging Torontonians to explore, celebrate and reflect on the people, places and events that shaped their city
• Toronto Maple Leaf Winter Week (MLSE Foundation) - celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the Maple Leafs and NHL with family activities at six Toronto rinks
• Tributaries (Luminato) - opened the 2017 festival with a powerful tribute to Indigenous women through music, dance and spoken word
• United4Peace (International Indian Film Festival Toronto) - local school kids and sport, media and film personalities came together in celebration of soccer
• Women and Girls in Sport (Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities) - dedicated Games and workshops to inspire 1,200+ girls to try new sports and become community leaders

ONtour - the soundtrack of 2017

Music is a powerful expression of our identity, with the power to bring people together. And what’s a great celebration without music?

ONtour brought some of the best and brightest Ontario-based musical acts to fans in 24 communities - large and small - across the province this summer, including urban centres with diverse populations, rural communities, two First Nations, several Francophone communities and a town serving military families.

• 24 communities
• 63 artists
• 3,885 minutes of music

The artist roster was multi-genre and reflective of Ontario’s cultural and geographic diversity. It featured both emerging and established artists including including Our Lady Peace, Kardinal Offishall, Amanda Marshall, July Talk, Serena Rider and Stef Paquette, as well as Coleman Hell, Iskwé, Scot Helman, River Town Saints and Francesco Yates.

• 10,000 kilometres travelled
• 112,000+ excited music fans
• 2.7M reached on Facebook

ONtour brought a professional, high-quality concert experience to more than 112,000 people, offering family-friendly entertainment that had cross-generational appeal. It fostered community pride, while building Ontario’s reputation as a global live music destination.

Application-based programs

Ontario150 Community Celebration Program

The Ontario150 Community Celebration Program supported communities across the province in commemorating and celebrating Ontario’s 150^th anniversary through multicultural festivals, art installations, cross-cultural exchanges and sport and recreation experiences.

Eligible applicants included not-for-profit organizations, municipalities and Indigenous communities and organizations.

• Dollars invested: $7 million
• Projects funded: 359
• By region:
  • Central: 33%
  • West: 29%
  • East: 26%
  • North: 12%

Highlights

Barton Village Festival. This free family festival in Hamilton’s Barton Village was started three years ago by a local resident frustrated by negative press about his community. This year’s event, featuring local entertainment, children’s activities, food and vendors was a huge success, attracting more than 20,000 people.

Not Just Numbers. The Toronto Ward Museum created an interactive game that invited the public to discover life stories of historic Canadians based on mystery census entries. After standing room only success in Toronto, they took the game on the road, partnering with libraries, museums and other groups in Kingston, Halifax and Ottawa.

Aboriginality: A Celebration of Canadian Aboriginal Music. This year’s Northern Lights Festival Boréal in Sudbury facilitated cross-cultural learning with a focus on the rich and eclectic musical styles of Indigenous music, featuring such exciting artists as A Tribe Called Red, Buffy Sainte Marie and 2017 Juno Award winners Quantum Tangle.

Ontario150 Partnership Program

The Ontario150 Partnership Program encouraged new partnerships – within and across sectors – to engage and empower youth in key areas such as: supporting young artists, promoting diversity and inclusion, environmental stewardship, youth entrepreneurship, promoting active and healthy living and youth civic engagement.

Eligible applicants included not-for-profit organizations, municipalities and Indigenous communities and organizations, businesses and business associations (for projects of a non-commercial nature).

• Dollars invested: $5 million
• Projects funded: 87
• By region:
  • Central: 38%
  • West: 28%
  • East: 23%
  • North: 11%

Highlights

Spirit Bear (DAREarts Foundation Inc.) Indigenous youth in four remote First Nations communities participated in week-long workshops, along with elders and professionals, to create their own multi-arts retelling of local traditional stories, inspired by the Stratford Festival’s production of The Breathing Hole. Their work was showcased in the community and at the Stratford Festival, and made available online.

ArtWorks Social Enterprise Program (United World Voices). Two hundred at-risk and homeless youth aged 16-24 in downtown Ottawa learned how to generate income by repurposing discarded materials into clothing accessories and household items. With the support of business mentors, volunteers and staff, a self-sustaining social enterprise was created by youth and for youth.

Métis Voyageur Canoe Expedition (Métis Nation of Ontario). Twelve Métis youth embarked on an epic 2,200 km, 86-day canoe expedition from Mattawa to Kenora, retracing the traditional waterways of their ancestor voyageurs and learning about Métis culture, traditions and role in Canadian history.

Ontario150 Community Capital Program

The Ontario150 Community Capital Program strengthened communities by supporting the repair, renovation or retrofit of existing infrastructure including multicultural centres, theatres, playgrounds, heritage sites and sports facilities.

Eligible applicants included registered charities and not-for-profit organizations; municipalities, cultural and recreation agencies and Local Service Boards operating community facilities; First Nations, Indigenous communities, including Métis and Inuit, and organizations serving urban Indigenous people.

The Ontario150 Community Capital Program was administered for the province through the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).

• Dollars invested: $25 million
• Projects funded: 202
• By region:
  • Central: 34%
  • West: 30%
  • East: 26%
  • North: 10%

Highlights

City of Brockville. Canada’s first railway tunnel and adjacent property has been repurposed as a central hub for the city’s recreational pathway, with a new paved concrete floor and energy efficient lighting to highlight the tunnel’s architecture and geology.

Township of Bonnechere Valley. The ice surface pad at the 50-year-old Eganville Community Arena was badly cracked and the circulation system used for freezing was leaking and corroded. Ontario150 funding helped replace the brine system, ice pad and dehumidifiers.

Variety Village. One of 61 community facilities across the province making accessibility improvements. Four washrooms and two change rooms at Toronto’s Variety Village will be fully renovated, with updated fixtures, lockers and showers. This work will help meet the growing demands for service at one of Ontario’s leading centres for inclusive sport development, impacting 30,000 children and adults who use the facility annually.

Organizations funded through application-based programs

Community Capital Program

• 1000 Islands Accommodation Partners
• Aboriginal Experiences, Arts and Culture
• ACO Stratford-Perth County
• Albion Islington Square Business Improvement Area
• Ancaster Agricultural Society
• Ancaster Business Improvement Area
• Ancaster Heritage Days Inc.
• AOE Arts Council
• Arnprior and McNab/Braeside Archives
• Art Gallery of Burlington
• Art Starts
• Arts & Culture Initiative of South Asia
• Arts Council Windsor and Region
• Arts Etobicoke
• Arts4All Creative Society
• ArtsXplosion Cultural Society
• Askennonia Seniors Centre
• Association canadienne-française de l'Ontario (ACFO) la Régionale Windsor-Essex-Chatham-Kent
• Association des Francophones du Nord-Ouest de l'Ontario
• Assunnah Muslim Association
• Athens and Area Heritage
• Bach Music Festival of Canada
• Ballet Creole
• Bangladeshi Canadian Community Services
• Bank Street Business Improvement Area
• Barton Village Business Improvement Area
• Black Creek Pioneer Village
• Brantford International Jazz Festival Inc.
• Bravo Niagara! Festival of the Arts
• Brockville Hydroplane Racing Inc.
• Bronte Business Improvement Area
• Burning Passions Theatre
• Buxton National Historic Site and Museum
• Bytown Blues Rugby Football Club
• ByWard Market Business Improvement Area
• Café-musique
• Cambridge International Street Art Festival
• Campbellford Incredible Edibles Festival
• Canada Day Barrhaven Inc.
• Canada Day in Kanata Association
• Canada India Foundation
• Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity
• Canadian Food Truck Festival
• Canadian Museum of Indian Civilization Inc.
• Canadian Polish Congress
• Cantata Singers of Ottawa
• Carrefour francophone de Sudbury
• Centre culturel du conseil de vie française de Cornwall
• Centre culturel Les trois p'tits points
• Centre français Hamilton inc.
• Centre franco-ontarien de folklore
• Centre3 for Print and Media Arts
• Club Optimiste de Bourget
• Coalition of Muslim Women of KW
• Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie
• Collingwood Downtown Business Improvement Area
• Community Heritage Ontario
• Community Matters Toronto
• Community YWCA of Muskoka
• Concession Business Improvement Area
• Congress of Black Women, Ajax/Pickering Chapter
• Conseil des arts de Hearst
• Conseil des Organismes francophones de la Région de Durham
• Continuum Contemporary Music Ensemble
• Coopérative radiophonique de Toronto (CRT)
• Cornwall Canada Day Committee
• Corporation of the Town of Prescott
• Council of Heritage Organizations in Ottawa/Le Conseil des organismes du patrimoine d' Ottawa
• Cow Over Moon Children's Theatre
• Credit Valley Conservation Foundation
• Critical Mass: A Centre for Contemporary Art
• Culture for Kids in the Arts
• Dacre and Area Community Association
• Dalkeith Historical Society
• Deep River Summer Festival
• Delta Agricultural Society
• Dokis First Nation Cultural Committee
• Downtown Hamilton Business Improvement Area
• Downtown Huntsville Business Improvement Area
• Dungannon Agricultural Society
• Durham Region Federation of Agriculture
• Earth Day Canada
• EcoEquitable Inc.
• Ecologos Environmental Organization
• Ecology Ottawa
• Economic Development Corporation of North Simcoe
• EcoSuperior Environmental Programs
• Edge of the Woods Theatre
• Elora Centre for the Arts
• Elora Festival and Singers
• Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women (North York)
• Esprit Orchestra
• Eva Rothwell Resource Centre
• Factory Media Centre
• Fanshawe Pioneer Village Museum
• FCJ Refugee Centre
• Federated Women's Institutes of Canada
• Fédération des aÎnés et des retraités francophones de l'Ontario
• Fergus Curling Club
• Festive Currents
• FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
• FIXT POINT
• Forest City Gallery
• Fort Erie Festivals
• Francophonie en Fête Corporation
• FrancoQueer
• French River Cultural Industries Council
• Fridge Door Live Theatre Company
• Friends of Fort George National Historic Park Inc.
• Friends of Laura Secord
• Friends of Sandbanks Park
• Friends of the Utopia Gristmill & Park
• Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve Inc.
• Georgian Bay Folk Society
• Georgina Trades Training Inc.
• Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant
• Globus Theatre Inc.
• Goulbourn Museum
• Green Thumbs Growing Kids
• Green Wood Coalition
• GreenUP
• Grey County Historical Society
• Grimsby Museum
• Grimsby Public Art Gallery
• Grosvenor Lodge - London Heritage Foundation
• Guelph Chamber Choir
• Haliburton Sculpture Forest
• Halton Region Conservation Authority
• Hamilton Arts Council
• Hamilton Association for Residential and Recreational Redevelopment Programs
• Hamilton Folk Arts Heritage Council
• Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra
• Hamilton Skating Club
• Hamilton, Halton, Brant Regional Tourism Association
• Handi-Care Intl.
• Harrington Community & Historical Preservation Club Inc.
• Harrowsmith and District Social and Athletic Club
• Heritage Ottawa
• Heritage Skills Development Centre
• Heritage York
• Hindu Swaminarayan Mandir and Cultural Centre
• Historic Waterdown Arts & Events
• Homer Watson House & Gallery
• Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival
• Huron Arts & Heritage Network
• Immigrant Culture and Art Association
• Institut franco-ontarien
• Iranian-Canadian Centre for Art and Culture
• Ireland House at Oakridge Farm
• Iroquois Falls Preschool Centre Prescolaire
• Italian Contemporary Film Festival
• Jamii Esplanade
• Jesuit Fathers of Upper Canada
• Joseph Brant Museum
• Jumblies Theatre
• Kaha:wi Dance Theatre
• Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association
• Kemptville Live Music Festival
• Kettle Creek Conservation Authority
• Kingston Canadian Film Festival
• Kingston Community Health Centres
• Knowledgeable Consumption
• Korean Dance Studies Society of Canada
• Lake Ontario Waterkeeper
• Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association
• Langs Farm Village Association
• L'Association canadienne-française de l'Ontario du grand Sudbury
• Lau Wing Chuen Chinese Performing Arts Association
• Le Centre canadien de la diversité des genres & de la sexualité
• Le Centre culturel ARTEM
• Lighthouse Festival Theatre
• London Arts Council
• London Committee For Cross Cultural Arts Inc.
• London Concert Band
• London Heritage Council
• London-Middlesex Civitan Club
• Loyalist Township Recreation Services Department
• Lula Music and Arts Centre
• Maple City Centre for Older Adults
• Markham Museum and Historic Village
• Marsh Street Community Centre
• Metro Toronto Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic
• Midaynta Community Services
• Mississauga Arts Council
• Mississauga Italian Canadian Benevolent Association
• Mississauga Ribfest
• MonstrARTity
• Moose River Heritage and Hospitality Association
• MOTUS O Dance Theatre
• Mount Dennis Community Association
• Municipality of Dutton Dunwich
• Municipality of Tweed
• Musée Bytown Museum
• Myths and Mirrors Community Arts
• National Rhythmic Gymnastics Centre
• Native Women in the Arts
• Neruda Arts
• New Canadian Community Centre
• New Canadians Centre Peterborough
• Niagara Grape and Wine Festival
• Niagara Jazz Festival
• North American Black Historical Museum and Cultural Centre Inc.
• North Bay & District Multicultural Centre
• North Newmarket Lions Club
• Northern Lights Festival Boréal
• O’Hara Volunteers Association
• Ontario Blind Sports Association
• Ontario Curling Council
• Ontario Heritage Fairs Association
• Ontario Land Trust Alliance
• Ontario Streams
• Ontario Table Tennis Association
• Ontario Waterpower Association
• Open Streets TO
• Orchestras Mississauga
• Orillia Museum of Art and History
• Orillia Vocal Ensemble
• Osgoode Youth Association
• Ottawa Art Gallery
• Ottawa Community Loan Funds/Fonds d'emprunt communautaire d'Ottawa (OCLF)
• Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival
• Ottawa International Children's Festival
• Ottawa River Canoe Club
• Ottawa Riverkeeper
• Ottawa Rowing Club
• Paint the Town Red Port Credit Community Association
• ParaSport Ontario
• Pembroke Curling Centre
• Peterborough Symphony Orchestra
• Planet in Focus: International Environmental Film & Video Festival
• Plenty Canada
• Pride London Festival
• Rainy River Future Development Corporation
• Red Dress Productions
• Redmaple Sunset Glow Cultural Association
• ReForest London
• Regent Park School of Music
• Regroupement étudiant franco-ontarien (RÉFO)
• Renfrew and Area Seniors' Home Support
• Retraite en Action
• Riverdale Hub
• Riverside Business Improvement Area
• Rockwalk Park Inc.
• Romanian Community of Niagara
• Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar
• Rotary Club of Palgrave
• Royal Canadian Curling Club
• Royal Canadian Legion Branch 641
• Sault Community Information & Career Centre Inc.
• Sawitri Theatre Group
• Seventeen Voyces
• Shadowpath Theatre Productions
• Sharon Temple Museum Society
• SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival
• Six Nations Polytechnic
• Social Planning Council of Sudbury
• Société franco-ontarienne du patrimoine et de l'histoire d'Orléans
• South Grey Museum & Historical Library
• Southside Shuffle Blues & Jazz Festival
• Srishti Foundation
• St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church
• St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation
• St. Thomas Gun Club
• St. Joseph's Kingsbridge Community
• STO Union Theatre Company Inc.
• Stonebridge Wasaga Beach Blues
• Storytelling Toronto
• Stratford Summer Music
• Streetsville Founders Bread & Honey Festival Inc.
• Sudbury Indie Cinema Co-op
• Suitcase in Point
• Sustain Ontario
• Sustainable Thinking and Expressions on Public Space (STEPS) Initiative
• Tangled Art + Disability
• The Canadian Antique & Classic Boat Society
• The City of Brantford
• The City of Brockville
• The City of London
• The City of Markham
• The City of Owen Sound
• The City of Pickering
• The City of Quinte West
• The City of Sarnia
• The City of Windsor
• The Essential Collective Theatre
• The Festival of Literary Diversity (the FOLD)
• The Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster
• The Hub for Beyond 21 Foundation
• The Kingston Prize Association
• The London Potters Guild
• The Multicultural Theatre Space (The MT Space) Inc.
• The Municipality of Brockton
• The Ottawa Guild of Potters
• The Prince Edward County Community Care for Seniors Association
• The Regional Diversity Roundtable
• The Riverwood Conservancy
• The Rosseau Culture and Arts Project
• The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
• The Sandbox Project
• The Toronto Blues Society
• The Township of Alberton
• The Township of Alfred and Plantagenet
• The Township of Billings
• The Township of Dorion
• The Township of Horton
• The Township of Leeds and The Thousand Islands
• The Township of McKellar
• The Township of Morley
• The Township of Rideau Lakes
• The Township of Uxbridge
• The Townships of Head, Clara and Maria
• The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
• The Village of Newbury
• The Word On The Street Toronto
• Theatre Cambrian
• Timmins Festivals and Events Committee
• Toronto Community & Culture Centre
• Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival
• Toronto Ward Museum Inc.
• Town of Carleton Place
• Town of Essex
• Trans Canada Trail Ontario
• Tucker House Renewal Centre
• Twenty Valley Tourism Association
• Ukrainian Museum of Canada (Ontario Branch)
• United Way of Perth-Huron
• Vedic Cultural Centre
• ville de Hawkesbury
• Viva Canada Culture & Events
• Volunteer Centre of Guelph Wellington
• Water Rangers
• West Ottawa Ladies Chorus
• Wexford Heights Business Improvement Area
• Windfall Ecology Centre
• Windsor Centre for Film, Digital Media & the Creative Arts
• Windsor International Film Festival
• Windsor Jewish Federation
• Windsor Parade Corporation
• Women's Employment Resource Centre
• Working Women Community Centre
• Young Sudbury Singers

Partnership Program

• Across U-Hub
• Aga Khan Foundation Canada
• AOE Arts Council
• Baobab Drum Dance Community
• Bimose Tribal Council Inc.
• Black History Ottawa
• Brant Theatre Workshops
• Burning Passions Theatre
• Canadian Community Arts Initiative
• Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
• Canadian Urban Institute
• Centre for Spanish Speaking Peoples
• Contact Brant
• County of Wellington
• Culture for Kids in the Arts
• DAREarts Foundation Inc.
• Documentary Organization of Canada
• Eastern Ontario Model Forest
• EcoSource
• EcoSuperior Environmental Programs
• El Sistema South London
• Elephant Thoughts Educational Outreach
• Equal Voice
• Factory Media Centre
• Faith & the Common Good
• FoodShare Toronto
• Fort Severn First Nation
• Friends of the Pan Am Path
• Fringe of Toronto Theatre Festival
• Grey Bruce Sustainability Network
• Guelph Arts Council
• Kettle Creek Conservation Authority
• Le Canton de Hawkesbury-Est
• London Arts Council
• Long Point Region Conservation Authority
• Métis Nation of Ontario
• MoCreebec Eeyoud
• MonstrARTity
• Native Child and Family Services of Toronto
• Native Women's Resource Centre of Toronto
• Niagara Peninsula Aboriginal Area Management Board
• Norfolk County Public Library Board
• Ontario Physical and Health Education Association
• Ontario Women's Hockey Association
• Opera Atelier (Atelier Theatre Society)
• Ottawa Art Gallery
• Ottawa Network for Education
• PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise
• Pickering Soccer Club Inc.
• Quinte Arts Council
• Recreation Outreach Centre
• ReForest London
• Regent Park Focus Youth Media Arts Centre
• Russian Library and Community Information Centre
• Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre
• Sketch Working Arts for Street-involved and Homeless Youth
• Small Pond Entertainers Inc.
• Southern Ontario Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative
• Special Olympics Ontario
• Tett Centre For Creativity and Learning
• The Apathy is Boring Project
• The City of London
• The City of Markham
• The City of Niagara Falls
• The Municipality of Brockton
• The Town of Oakville
• The Town of Tecumseh
• The Township of Champlain
• The Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal
• The Township of King
• The Township of Nipigon
• The Township of Tiny
• Theatre Orangeville
• Thinking Rock Community Arts
• Toronto Concert Orchestra
• Toronto Musicians' Association
• Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival
• Toronto Workforce Innovation Group
• Town of Milton
• United World Voices
• Volunteer Centre of St. Lawrence-Rideau
• Wakenagun Community Futures Development Corporation
• WEtech Alliance
• Windsor Essex Community Foundation
• YMCA of Kingston
• Youth Action Network/Réseau Action jeunesse
• Youth Opportunities Unlimited

Community Capital Program

• Abrigo Centre
• Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services
• Acton Curling Club
• Alderville First Nation
• Algoma Residential Community Hospice
• Alzheimer Society of Brant, Haldimand Norfolk, Hamilton, Halton
• Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region
• Alzheimer Society of York Region
• Aron Theatre Co-operative Inc.
• Artcite Inc.
• Ayr Curling Club
• Boys and Girls Club of London
• Boys and Girls Club of Durham
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Hamilton
• Brampton Multicultural Community Centre
• Burlington Curling Club
• Camp Kawartha Inc.
• Camp Oochigeas
• Camp Winston
• Camphill Communities Ontario
• Canadian Automotive Museum
• Centre Charles-Émile-Claude, centre polyvalent des aîné(e)s inc.
• City of Brockville
• City of Burlington
• City of Hamilton
• City of Peterborough
• Coldwater Mill Heritage Foundation (CMHF)
• Community Living Essex County
• Community Living St. Catharines
• Community Resource Centre (Killaloe) Inc.
• CONTACT Community Services
• Corporation of the Municipality of Calvin
• Corporation of the Township of Mapleton
• Corporation of the Township of North Huron
• COSTI Immigrant Services
• Cottonwood Mansion Preservation Foundation
• Covenant House Toronto
• Credit Valley Conservation Foundation
• Dawson Citizens Improvement Association
• Dixon Hall Neighbourhood Services
• Easter Seals Ontario
• Echo Bay Elks Lodge No. 535
• Eden United Church
• Egale Canada Human Rights Trust
• Ellwood House (Ottawa) Inc.
• Elora Centre for the Arts
• Essex Region Conservation Foundation
• Evergreen
• Fairfields Swimming Club
• Forest-Lambton Museum Society
• Frontenac Community Arena
• Gilda's Club Simcoe Muskoka
• Goderich Little Theatre
• Grace Place
• Haldimand County
• Harrowsmith and District Social and Athletic Club
• Hashomer Hatzair Young Guard
• Hiatus House
• Hillside Festival
• Historic Vehicle Society of Ontario
• Homes First Foundation
• Jewish Russian Speaking Community of Toronto
• John Howard Society of Thunder Bay & District
• Just Food Ottawa
• JVS Toronto
• Kawartha Settlers' Village
• Kingston Home Base Non-profit Housing Inc.
• Kinsmen Club of Listowel
• Kitchener-Waterloo Counselling Services Incorporated
• Kiwanis Homes Inc.
• Lanark Highlands Youth Centre Inc.
• Land O' Lakes Curling Club
• Leamington and District Half Century Centre Inc.
• LIFE*SPIN
• Lighthouse Festival Theatre
• London Family Court Clinic
• MacLaren Art Centre
• Matawatchan Community Memorial Centre
• Mission Services Hamilton Inc.
• MukiBaum Accessibility Centre
• Mulmur Township
• Municipality of Bayham
• Municipality of Brighton
• Municipality of Central Huron
• Municipality of Central Manitoulin
• Municipality of Greenstone
• Municipality of Huron Shores
• Municipality of Neebing
• Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula
• Municipality of South Dundas
• Neighbour to Neighbour Centre (Hamilton)
• Nelson Youth Centres
• Niagara Artists Centre
• Niagara Falls Art Gallery/Niagara Children's Museum
• Niagara Historical Society
• North American Black Historical Museum
• North Bay Area Museum Society
• North Hastings Community Cupboard
• North Lanark Agricultural Society
• Northumberland County
• Oakville Parent-Child Centre (OPCC)
• Ojibwe Cultural Foundation
• Ontario Basketball
• Oshawa Senior Citizens Centres
• Ottawa Gymnastics Centre
• Ottawa Little Theatre Inc.
• Ottawa River Canoe Club
• Owen Sound Little Theatre
• Oxford County Museum School
• Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre (Toronto)
• Petawawa Heritage Society
• Pillar Nonprofit Network
• Planned Parenthood Toronto
• Port Stanley Festival Theatre
• Prince Edward Fitness & Aquatic Centre (PEFAC)
• Quinte Rowing Club
• Reena
• Régie Locale des Services Publics de Jogues
• Rendez-vous des aînés francophones d'Ottawa
• Royal Canadian Legion, Restoule Branch 639
• Royal Canadian Legion, Massey Branch 432
• SAW Video Media Art Centre
• Scorpions Youth Volleyball Club Inc.
• SKETCH Working Arts for Street-involved and Homeless Youth
• Southern Frontenac Community Services Corporation
• St. Joseph's Parish
• St. Paul's L'Amoreaux Centre
• Steps to Recovery
• Sunshine Centres for Seniors
• Tarragon Theatre
• Thames Valley Children's Centre
• The Burlington Performing Arts Centre
• The City of Barrie
• The City of Oshawa
• The Community Waterfront Heritage Centre
• The Corporation of the County of Brant
• The Corporation of the Municipality of Leamington
• The Corporation of the Municipality of Trent Hills
• The Corporation of the Township of Terrace Bay
• The Corporation of the United Townships of Head, Clara and Maria
• The Corporation of the Municipality of Arran-Elderslie
• The George S. Syme Seniors' Centre of York
• The Gibson Cultural Centre Corporation
• The Hope Centre
• The Oakville Curling Club
• The Table Community Food Centre
• The Township of Hamilton
• The Walkerton Golf and Curling Club
• Thistle Theatre
• Town of Bracebridge
• Town of Caledon
• Town of Carleton Place
• Town of Collingwood
• Town of Fort Frances
• Town of Ingersoll
• Town of Lakeshore
• Town of LaSalle
• Town of Midland
• Town of Milton
• Town of Minto
• Town of Newmarket
• Town of Oakville
• Town of Petawawa
• Town of Petrolia
• Town of Plympton-Wyoming
• Township of Billings
• Township of Bonnechere Valley
• Township of Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan
• Township of Centre Wellington
• Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal
• Township of Essa
• Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands
• Township of McNab/Braeside
• Township of North Stormont
• Township of O'Connor
• Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan
• Township of Pickle Lake
• Township of South Frontenac
• Township of Southgate
• Township of St. Clair
• Township of Wellington North
• Township of Zorra
• Trenton Curling Club
• Tropicana Community Services
• Tucker House Renewal Centre
• Tweed & Area Arts Council
• Vankleek Hill Agricultural Society
• Variety Village
• Visual Arts Mississauga at Riverwood
• Wabaseemoong Independent Nations
• Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation
• West Neighbourhood House
• Westben Arts Festival Theatre
• Winchester Curling Club
• Windsor-Essex Therapeutic Riding Association
• Women & Children's Shelter of Barrie
• Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre
• Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care
• YMCA of Brockville and Area
• YMCA of Greater Toronto
• YMCA of Niagara
• YMCA of Sudbury

Cross government initiatives

Agencies and attractions

Ontario’s tourism and culture agencies and attractions thrilled visitors with new and augmented programming, events and exhibitions.

With facilities across Ontario, these organizations were uniquely suited to serve as hubs for Ontario150 celebrations.

Programming highlights included:

• Art Gallery of Ontario - The Every.Now.Then exhibition explored Canada as a dynamic work in progress anchored by strong Indigenous voices and a complexity of cultures.
• Fort William Historical Park - The first ever Karnival on the Kam drew thousands of visitors with watersport stunt shows, a big top circus and Canada's largest ever fireworks show.
• Huronia Historical Parks - The new Discovery Harbour Skate Trail featured historical interpretation, ice sculptures and live entertainment.
• McMichael Canadian Art Collection - The Passion Over Reason: Tom Thomson & Joyce Weiland exhibition took a critical approach to our fascination with Canada’s most iconic artist.
• Niagara Parks Commission - New interactive exhibits, pollinator gardens and other environmental programming educated visitors about the region’s rich environmental features.
• Ontario Heritage Trust - The MyOntario initiative started a conversation with Ontarians about our experiences, identities, values and aspirations, creating a lasting record for the future.
• Ontario Place - Ontario150 themed festivals on the four summer long weekends helped reintroduce Ontarians to this iconic destination.
• Ontario Science Centre - Inventorium transformed the Ontario Science Centre Great Hall into a hands-on discovery and exploration zone.
• Royal Botanical Gardens - Nature Connects put the beauty of the natural world on display using the world’s most popular building blocks – LEGO!
• Royal Ontario Museum - The must-see Blue Whale exhibit, Out of the Depths, told the story of one of the natural world's most majestic creatures, while Anishinaabeg: Art & Power showcased a grassroots Indigenous art movement.
• Science North - A new touring planetarium show, Under the Same Stars: Minwaadizin, explored the common constellations through traditional Anishinaabe stories.
• St. Lawrence Parks Commission - The Eve of Confederation immersive theatre experience at Upper Canada Village invited audiences to experience love, life and politics in the 1860’s.

Partner ministries

The Ontario150 program was a cross-government endeavour, with many ministries taking the opportunity to align activities with the Ontario150 themes, incorporate the Ontario150 brand into their products or participate in Ontario150 events.

Ten ministries specifically used this pivotal point in our history to expand or augment their programming. With support from the Ontario150 program, they used their unique expertise and relationships to help advance a range of provincial priorities highlighted below.

Participating ministries included:

• Accessibility Directorate of Ontario - Produced a new EnAbling Change children’s book series to help kids develop positive attitudes toward accessibility and inclusion, distributed to Ontario schools and libraries.
• Children and Youth Services - Hosted a Youth Impact Summit on the future of youth civic engagement with 1,000 youth and youth organizations, and funded four grassroots youth initiatives.
• Citizenship and Immigration - Enhanced the 30^th Order of Ontario investiture ceremony to honour all past and present recipients and Canada Day Celebrations at Queen’s Park for over 50,000 people.
• Education - Improved playgrounds and/or community spaces at almost 360 elementary schools, and supported over 80 secondary schools in creating their own 150-themed celebrations.
• Francophone Affairs - Presented a cultural showcase in Ottawa on Franco Ontarian Day, and worked with TFO to deliver an interactive program for French-language middle schools.
• Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation - Supported the Métis Nation of Ontario’s Métis Voyageur Canoe Expedition Expedition, the 2017 Indspire Awards and Soaring Conference for Indigenous youth, and 27 community projects.
• International Trade - Worked with the Toronto Global Forum to host an innovative program for ex-pat business leaders who mentored over 350 young entrepreneurs and SMEs.
• Northern Development and Mines - Distributed 16,000 Ontario150-branded white pine seed kits to encourage kids and families across the province to take action on climate change by Re-greening Ontario.
• Seniors’ Affairs - Age Friendly Ontario supported 33 community-based projects to engage seniors, new community resources and a conference for Franco-Ontarian seniors.
• Status of Women - Delivering a one-day symposium in early 2018 to celebrate 150 years of women’s achievements and the future of women and girls’ empowerment in Ontario.

Toronto Global Forum

• 17 mentoring sessions
• 42 ex-pat business leaders
• 130 speakers
• 350 young entrepreneurs and SMEs
• 2,600 participants
• Boundless opportunities

Re-greening Ontario

• 5,000 schools/events
• 16,000 seed pods distributed
• 160,000 white pine seeds
• Up to 125,850,000 kg of offset carbon

Canada Day at Queen's Park

• 30,000+ participants
• 150 new Canadians
• one epic sesquicentennial celebration

Public engagement

The Ontario150 program included a marketing campaign to increase the excitement and awareness of Ontario150 and provide Ontarians across the province with opportunities for public engagement. The Ontario150 program had an impressive reach:

Over 2 billion impressions and counting!

Logo

A distinct Ontario150 logo was developed to create brand awareness and distinguish Ontario150 from other sesquicentennial programs. The brightly coloured logo captured the energy and vibrancy of Ontario as a centre of culture, creativity and innovation.

From a sea of Ontario150-branded flags at community events to field of play presence at the Invictus Games and World Junior Hockey Championships, and from a GO Train wrap to movie cinema ad campaigns, the Ontario150 logo was seen everywhere.

Nearly 700 funded partners and stakeholders as well as hundreds of other businesses and organizations, used the logo to co-brand their initiatives and demonstrate their enthusiasm for Ontario150.

Song

Marking the sesquicentennial provided a unique opportunity to re-imagine A Place to Stand, Ontario’s unofficial anthem. The upbeat new version, recorded by a local Toronto band, Ginger Ale & The Monowhales, became the soundtrack for Ontario150 and the ad campaign. Sheet music, chorale arrangements and lyrics were made available on the Ontario.ca/150 website and used by Ontarians, school bands and choirs across the province. The anthem played at ONtour concerts, Canada Day celebrations, the 105^th Grey Cup Festival, and at multiple stakeholder events throughout the year. It also received over 70,000 views on the province’s YouTube channel, and thousands of downloads on Spotify and SoundCloud.

Ad

The ad campaign focused on Ontario150 included themes of diversity, inclusion, hope and opportunity, and was seen on television, in cinemas, online and through social media. It celebrated the values that define Ontario, and reminded everyone why Ontario is a great place to live.

2 billion+ impressions

• A Place to Stand
  • YouTube
  • SoundCloud
  • Spotify
• Webpage (Ontario.ca/150)
• Social media
  • Twitter (ExploreON)
  • Facebook (ONGov)
  • Instagram (ONGov)
  • #Ontario150
• Local media
• Cross government
• Ad campaign
  • Cinema
  • Television
  • Online video
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
• Ontario150 activations
• Funded partners
• Non-funded stakeholders