Published plans and annual reports 2017-2018: Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries

Overview

Mandate

The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (MTCS) is mandated to help build a strong innovative economy in Ontario through strategic support and investment in three key sectors of the economy – tourism, culture, and sport and recreation.

MTCS is committed to creating new opportunities and promoting the values that work in the best interests of Ontarians in their workplaces and communities by building a province that is an internationally recognized tourism destination with strong culture and sport and recreation sectors.

Ministry contribution to priorities and results

MTCS contributes to the government’s commitment to supporting a dynamic business environment, increasing talent and skills in innovative and fast-growing areas of the economy and enhancing Ontarians’ quality of life as it moves forward on its 2017-18 priorities:

Work with the tourism industry to support economic growth, collaborate with other partners to attract international investment, and support festivals and events across the province:

• Implement Ontario’s Tourism Action Plan and the Strategic Framework for Tourism in Ontario by working with industry partners, and encouraging more collaborative and innovative approaches to maximize the growth and competitiveness of Ontario’s tourism sector.
• Continue to invest in the regional tourism approach to grow tourism in Ontario and work with Regional Tourism Organizations to modernize the Regional Tourism program.
• Engage with the tourism industry to improve effectiveness and alignment across tourism programs and activities.
• Provide strategic policy and planning expertise to the tourism industry, other ministries and other levels of government on tourism-related issues and the initiatives of other industries that impact tourism.
• Foster continued collaboration with government partners, Destination Canada and industry to give national focus to tourism issues and successfully promote Ontario’s priorities at federal/provincial forums.
• Co-host the annual meeting of the Council of Canadian Ministers of Tourism in Ottawa in September 2017.
• Continue to support festivals and events through the Celebrate Ontario program.
• Continue to implement the Tourism Investment Attraction Strategy by participating in international in-market programs, applying new research on tourist attractions and inland waterway development to target investors with compelling business cases.
• Partner with the Ministries of Economic Development and Growth and Research, Innovation and Science on investment funding programs, and apply a whole-of-government approach to support major tourism investment projects.
• Implement actions outlined in Tour By Bike: Ontario’s Cycling Tourism Plan to develop cycling as a tourism and environmental heritage draw in Ontario communities.
• Continue to focus the Tourism Development Fund on attracting new investment, supporting industry capacity building, and encouraging industry-led tourism development projects.
• Implement improvements resulting from a program review of Tourism-Oriented Directional Signing to strengthen and modernize the province’s tourism highway signing program.
• Work with stakeholders to develop and implement initiatives that support pan-regional tourism initiatives, such as Indigenous tourism – including support of the next phase of the Aboriginal Tourism 2020 strategy, Francophone tourism – including the Champlain Route, and continue to enhance accessibility in the tourism sector.

Work to protect built heritage and archaeological resources, promote the arts, strengthen public libraries, and support community partnerships and engagement:

• Continue to provide leadership for the planning, delivery, evaluation and funding of the ministry’s arts, libraries, cultural industries, museums and heritage programs.
• Continue implementation of the Ontario Culture Strategy to promote cultural engagement and inclusion, strengthen culture in communities, maximize the contributions of culture and creativity to our knowledge economy and promote the value of the arts throughout government.
• Implementation of key Culture Strategy initiatives, such as:
  • Foster the use of diverse Canadian content in schools through a new fund that will support publishers in creating curriculum-linked learning resources for selected works of literature.
  • As part of Ontario’s response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, deliver the Indigenous Culture Fund to support cultural activities and practices, raising awareness of the vitality of Indigenous cultures in Ontario and promoting reconciliation.
  • Develop the Arts Policy Framework to promote the contributions of artists and the broader arts sector throughout the Ontario government.
  • Work with partner ministries to establish a program under the Climate Change Action Plan that will fund energy retrofits of heritage buildings, promoting the benefits of reducing energy consumption and preserving these important and historic buildings for the enjoyment of future generations.
  • Continue the work of the Ministry-Industry Film and Television Advisory Panel to examine priority issues facing the industry and collaborate on strategies to promote the growth, innovation, diversity and global expansion of Ontario's film and television sector.
  • Continue to review and update provincial funding programs for public libraries to build the capacity of libraries serving rural and remote communities, improve digital services and support leadership and innovation.
• In partnership with the Ontario Media Development Corporation, deliver the expanded Interactive Digital Media Fund with $10 million per year in funding to support expanded marketing activity, global business development and industry capacity-building.
• Continue to work with other ministries and provincial agencies, municipalities and heritage stakeholders to build a culture of heritage conservation, including government-wide implementation of the Standards and Guidelines for Conservation of Provincial Heritage Properties.

Promote active lifestyles and increased participation in sport, recreation and physical activity for all Ontarians:

• Continue to implement Game ON – the Ontario Government’s Sport Plan. The Plan is athlete-centered and will help guide and co-ordinate policies and practices for sport in Ontario.
• Deliver the 2017 Ontario Sport Symposium, which will bring together Ontario’s leaders in the field of sport to look at ways to implement Game ON, and highlight research, current issues and best practices in the sector.
• Deliver the Ontario Games Program through grants to municipalities to host the Ontario Summer and Winter Games, Ontario 55+ Winter and Summer Games and the ParaSport Games.
• Develop a provincial Action Plan for Equal Opportunity in Sport, with advice from the Minister’s Advisory Panel on Sport, to improve women and girls’ participation in sport. Present the Action Plan as a model for other jurisdictions at a meeting of federal, provincial, and territorial sport ministers in Winnipeg in summer 2017.
• Work with partner ministries to support cycling and walking as part of a healthy, active lifestyle, including supporting work across government to make commuter cycling easier and safer.
• Support the Rowan's Law Advisory Committee as it develops recommendations to prevent and mitigate head injuries in sports and create awareness about head injuries in sports.
• Continue to implement the Ontario Trails Strategy and Trails Action Plan to encourage more people to use Ontario trails and build awareness of their physical, social and economic benefits, and launch the inaugural “Trails Week.”
• Support community-based sport, recreation and physical activity programs in First Nations communities through the Community Aboriginal Recreation Activator (CARA) Program and continue to develop opportunities for Indigenous community recreation.
• Continue implementing the Sport Pathway for Ontario Native Wellness in partnership with the Aboriginal Sport and Wellness Council of Ontario (AWSCO). The purpose of the Sport Pathway initiative is to reduce barriers for Indigenous people to participate in organized sport and create opportunities for Indigenous athletes to train and compete within the Indigenous community to build skill and competition preparedness.
• Support the hosting and delivery of the 2017 North American Indigenous Games.
• Roll out the Youth Culture Camps initiative, which is a key commitment under The Journey Together: Ontario’s Commitment to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples that was released by the Premier on May 30, 2016.

Celebrate 150 Years of Ontario and the Federation:

• Lead the development, coordination and delivery of a cross-government, multi-faceted program to commemorate and celebrate the 150th anniversary of Ontario and Canada in 2017 and leave a legacy for future growth and prosperity.
• Supporting projects, initiatives and capital investments that strengthen communities across the province, creating lasting economic, cultural and social legacies for Ontarians, with a particular focus on youth.
• Identify opportunities, working with its tourism and cultural agencies, for high-profile programming to increase visitor attendance and promote Ontario as a cultural tour

Promote culture, heritage and tourism agencies and attractions to maximize their contributions to Ontario’s economic and social fabric:

• Continue to invest strategically to increase market reach and develop new audiences and products to boost tourism across Ontario and provide an environment in which cultural activities can thrive.
• Transform Ontario Place into a year-round, multi-use waterfront destination. The first phase is near completion with the Urban Park and William G. Davis Trail scheduled to open during 2017.
• Identify opportunities, working with the ministry’s tourism and cultural agencies, for high-profile programming to increase visitor attendance and promote Ontario as a cultural tourism destination.
• Through the Ontario Arts Council, continue to provide strategic investments and other services to develop Ontario artists and arts organizations, and promote art in communities across the province.
• Through the Ontario Trillium Foundation, continue to support strong and healthy community initiatives throughout Ontario.
• Through the Metropolitan Toronto Convention Centre, Canada’s largest convention centre, continue to attract international and national conventions.
• Through the Niagara Parks Commission, continue to operate and support many programs and services in Niagara Falls and along the Niagara River, both independently and in collaboration with community partners.
• At Huronia Historical Parks, mark Ontario’s 150th anniversary by planning and implementing special events and sesquicentennial themed public and education programming that engage the community in partnerships and resonates with visitors.
• At Fort William Historical Park, continue to be a leader in the development of cultural programs and experiences highlighting the role of the Indigenous community in the development of Ontario and Canada.

Ministry programs and activities

The ministry delivers a number of programs to help achieve government priorities, including supporting a dynamic business environment, increasing talent and skills among Ontarians, reducing poverty, inequality and exclusion, and promoting a healthier population.

Tourism

The ministry provides policy, research, investment and development activities that support a stronger, more competitive tourism industry and help create a supportive and dynamic business environment. In collaboration with tourism industry stakeholders, other Ontario ministries and agencies, and federal and provincial governments, the ministry works to strengthen partnerships, coordinate planning, build on Ontario’s national and international profile, and generate increased tourism visitation and spending.

Tourism Sector Support and Promotion – The ministry, along with its tourism agencies, delivers a strategic set of coordinated programs and activities to maximize the industry’s growth and contribution to Ontario’s economy. These initiatives include targeted investments to attract or enhance festivals and events. This also includes planning and economic development activities through Regional Tourism Organizations.

Tourism Development and Investment Services – Through investment attraction and sector research, the ministry works to maximize opportunities for growth and development in the tourism sector and actively attracts and supports private sector investment and development initiatives in Ontario.

Ontario Place Revitalization – Create economic opportunities for tourism and investment through the revitalization of Ontario Place into a year-round, vibrant waterfront destination while building on the site’s legacy of innovation, fun and live music. Continue to transform Ontario Place through key public and private sector partnerships.

Culture

Guided by Ontario’s Culture Strategy, the ministry strengthens policies and programs that promote cultural engagement and inclusion, strengthen culture in communities, fuel the creative economy, and promote the value of the arts throughout government.

The ministry helps to build capacity for the conservation of Ontario’s heritage and the sustainability and growth of Ontario’s arts sector and creative economy. It strengthens policies and programs that contribute to making Ontario a leader in cultural production and a province rich in cultural, heritage and archaeological resources and attractions.

Ontario’s Creative Economy Programs and Services – The ministry provides grants, business development assistance and tax credits to stimulate cultural production, investment and job creation in creative economy sectors: film and television production, recorded and live music, book and magazine publishing and interactive digital media.

Arts Sector Support – Through funding programs for artists, artist-educators, not-for-profit organizations, training institutions and cultural tourism partners, the ministry supports artistic creation and presentation, organizational development, and training programs to create a competitive and skilled workforce.

Library Sector Support – The ministry administers the Public Libraries Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P 44, supports two special library service boards, and provides an operating grant program, project funding, advice and outreach to increase library sustainability and improve capacity while encouraging innovation. Programs help the province’s public and First Nations libraries deliver services and programs that are responsive to evolving local needs and help Ontarians learn and succeed in the knowledge-based economy.

Heritage Sector Support – The ministry maintains core operating grant programs, and provides advice and outreach to support museums, heritage organizations and municipalities to protect and preserve Ontario’s heritage resources. The ministry supports its provincial agency, the Ontario Heritage Trust, administers the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.18 (except in respect of Part III), and licenses archaeologists.

Sport and recreation

The ministry’s programs promote a culture that values sport, recreation and physical activity and champions the social and economic benefits of active, engaged living for all Ontarians. To support the achievement of the government’s priority for a healthier population, ministry programs aim to increase capacity within the sport and recreation sector and provide opportunities for all Ontarians to embrace an active lifestyle.

Athlete Development – The ministry supports Provincial and Multi-Sport Organizations in the development and delivery of amateur sport programming in the province, in addition to supporting excellence in sport by helping Ontario’s high performance athletes achieve results on the national and international stages. The ministry delivers the Ontario Games program, including summer and winter youth games, 55+ games and parasport games. It promotes Ontario as an attractive venue for hosting high-profile national and international sporting events through strategic investments.

Active Communities – The ministry supports the delivery of local programs that promote an active, engaged lifestyle and increased levels of physical activity for all Ontarians, including children and youth. The ministry also provides overall coordination for provincial interests in trails, parkland, open space and water-based recreation resources.

Active Indigenous Communities – The ministry is providing support to further develop and implement an integrated Indigenous regional sport and recreation system called the Sport Pathway for Ontario Native Wellness (Sport Pathway). The Sport Pathway is being led by the Aboriginal Sport & Wellness Council of Ontario in partnership with the ministry, providing a full continuum of sport and recreation programming for all age groups, and playground to podium opportunities.

Active Youth – Through the Ontario After School Program, the ministry is providing support to sport and recreation organizations in the delivery of after school programming to more than 22,000 children and youth at over 400 locations across the province. The Ontario After School Program supports quality after school programs, at low-or-no cost, to help children and youth get active, learn about healthy habits, gain confidence and achieve more in school.

Agencies and attractions

The ministry supports 14 provincial agencies and 2 directly operated tourism attractions.

Tourism Agencies and Attractions – Tourism agencies and attractions promote economic growth and job creation by offering a range of educational, recreational, cultural and entertainment programs for residents and visitors.

Culture Agencies – Culture agencies showcase Ontario’s cultural diversity and creativity, as well as its history and cultural heritage, offering learning and entertainment opportunities in venues that have economic, social and historical value to communities and regions throughout the province.

Ontario Trillium Foundation – This agency is mandated to build healthy and vibrant communities throughout Ontario by strengthening the capacity of the voluntary sector through investments in community-based initiatives.

Special activities

Ontario150 – The ministry is responsible for leading the coordination and delivery of a cross-government, multi-faceted program to celebrate and commemorate the 150th anniversary of Ontario and Canada in 2017. The Ontario150 program supports projects and initiatives that strengthen communities across the province, creating lasting economic, cultural and social legacies for Ontarians, especially for youth – our next generation of leaders. The Ontario150 program includes:

• Three application-based programs supporting over 650 projects in communities across Ontario
• Over 25 Signature Initiatives across Ontario designed to enhance community pride and engagement, showcase our talent, innovation, and diversity, and create legacies for the future
• New and enhanced programming developed and delivered by nine partner ministries across government to mark this milestone year
• A range of events and initiatives taking place at twelve provincial tourism and cultural agencies and attractions throughout 2017

Highlights of 2016-17 achievements

The following are highlights of the ministry’s achievements for 2016-17. For detailed results, please refer to the Annual Report.

Tourism

• Continued work to enhance the economic impact of the tourism sector by building on the successful implementation of the regional tourism model. The model supports enhanced partnerships, better-integrated marketing activities and increased emphasis on performance measurement, product development, investment and workforce development.
• Undertook discussions with tourism industry stakeholders to inform the development of a Strategic Framework for Tourism in Ontario, launched in November 2016. The Framework built on key themes identified in the 2009 Discovering Ontario Report and the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario’s Mapping Ontario’s Tourism Future report.
• Continued implementation of the Tourism Investment Attraction Strategy through completion of in-market investment programs and ongoing support of major investment projects with a whole-of-government approach.
• Supported over 200 festivals and events through the Celebrate Ontario program. Examples include: the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival (Chamberfest), Supercrawl in Hamilton, the Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival, and the Kemptville Live Music Festival.
• Supported tourism product development, investment attraction and industry capacity building projects through the Tourism Development Fund.
• 367 initiatives were approved for Ontario150 Community Celebration Program funding. Examples include: 150 Seconds of Ontario Film Festival, Celebrating 150 of Ontario Agriculture, and VIVA ONTARIO 150.

Culture

• Established the Ministry-Industry Film and Television Advisory Panel to examine priority issues facing the industry and collaborate on strategies to promote the growth, innovation and global expansion of Ontario's film and television sector.
• Increased the annual investment in the Interactive Digital Media Fund to $10 million and worked closely with stakeholders to focus the government’s Interactive Digital Media investment on core entertainment products.
• The Ontario Music Fund is now a permanent program investing $15 million annually to sustain growth in the music industry. In 2016-17, the Fund provided 190 development grants to Ontario music organizations, including record labels, live music presenters and industry trade associations.
• The ministry supported several successful exhibitions including the Royal Ontario Museum’s CHIHULY and the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Mystical Landscapes: Masterpieces from Monet, van Gogh and More.
• Advocated for Ontario’s content producers with a written submission in the Department of Canadian Heritage’s comprehensive review of culture policy supports for Canadian content (Cancon) entitled "Strengthening Canadian Content Creation, Discovery and Export in a Digital World." Ontario was the only province or territory to make a submission.

Sport and recreation

• In December 2016, released the Year One Progress Report for Game ON. As part of implementing Game ON, the Premier announced the development of an action plan regarding gender equity in sport and challenged sector partners to also take action to remove barriers and create equitable opportunities for women and girls in sport.
• Released a renewed Sport Recognition Policy for Provincial and Multi-Sport Organizations that will ensure high quality sport is delivered to Ontarians.
• The Rowan’s Law Advisory Committee Act, 2016 received Royal Assent on June 9, 2016, establishing the Rowan’s Law Advisory Committee. Members of the Committee were appointed in Fall 2016 for a one-year term with a mandate to review the 49 recommendations made in the inquest into the death of Rowan Stringer and provide a report to the Minister in September 2017.
• The Ontario Trails Act, 2016 was proclaimed and came into force on September 1, 2016, which will help the community more effectively develop, operate and promote trails while enhancing the experience of all trail users.
• Delivered the 2016-17 Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund, which funded 19 provincial and 110 local regional projects engaging over 220,000 Ontario participants and 3,889 volunteers, training over 30,000 individuals in fundamental movement skills and providing employment for over 385 staff.
• Delivered Ontario’s After School Program by targeting priority communities/populations and engaging over 125 organizations that serve over 22,000 children and youth at 400 sites across the province.
• Successfully hosted the Ontario Summer Games in Mississauga, the largest Ontario Games in the province’s history. The Ontario 55+ Summer Games were hosted in Midland and the Ontario ParaSport Games and the Ontario 55+ Winter Games were hosted in Brantford/Brant and Cobourg respectively. The ministry also successfully secured host municipalities for the 2018 Ontario Winter Games (Orillia), 2018 Ontario Summer Games (London) and 2018 Ontario 55+ Summer Games (Mississauga) through a competitive bid process.

Agencies and attractions

• The Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC) completed redevelopment of its digital marketing infrastructure to provide consumers with more compelling and accessible travel information and decision-making tools. OTMPC initiated a popular new Ontario tourism brand platform, "WhereAmI?" in Ontario and Quebec.
• Continued progress was made towards the phased revitalization of Ontario Place into a year-round, landmark waterfront destination for all Ontarians and visitors to enjoy. The first phase of Ontario Place Revitalization includes the construction of a 7.5-acre park and trail, which is on track for completion and opening in 2017. The trail connects to more than 2,000 kilometres along the Trans Canada Trail in Ontario. As of November 2016, nearly 300 people had worked on site, virtually all of them based in Ontario. Activation of the site is also on track for the summer of 2017.
• The Royal Ontario Museum experienced record-breaking attendance in 2016-17 of 1.35 million visitors. This represents a 23% increase from the previous year.
• Continued progress was made towards the phased revitalization of Ontario Place into a year-round, landmark waterfront destination for all Ontarians and visitors to enjoy, with the government announcing in July 2014 its long-term vision for Ontario Place, which was informed by public and stakeholder input and studies.
• In 2016-17, the Ontario Trillium Foundation invested almost $76.3 million in 434 initiatives to build healthy and vibrant communities throughout the province. Additionally, the Ontario Trillium Foundation invested $22.3 million in 203 initiatives in support of the ON150 Community Capital Program.
• In 2016-17, Art Gallery of Ontario had the highest annual attendance level since the Gallery reopened in 2008 following Transformation AGO, in part due to the success of the Mystical Landscapes: Masterpieces from Monet, Van Gogh and more exhibition that broke into the list of top 10 most-visited exhibitions in AGO history.
• 12 provincial agencies and attractions had projects approved for funding through the Ontario150 Program for Events and Exhibitions at Agencies and Attractions. Examples include: the Indigenous Plant Discovery Trail, the Eve of Confederation, and Out of the Depths: The Blue Whale Story.

Ontario150 secretariat

• Three application-based granting programs, open to community groups, municipalities, First Nations and Indigenous community organizations were launched on July 6, 2016:
  • The Ontario 150 Community Capital Program ($25 million supports the repair, renovation and retrofit of community facilities)
  • The Ontario150 Community Celebration Program ($7 million) supports communities in celebrating and commemorating the sesquicentennial
  • The Ontario150 Partnership Program ($5 million) engages and empowers youth as leaders, learners and innovators
• These programs are supporting over 650 successful projects across Ontario.
• On September 16, 2016 the Ontario150 program was publicly launched in Ottawa. Nine partner ministries are delivering 10 new or enhanced public-facing sesquicentennial related initiatives, including dedicated granting streams and celebration events, and more than 20 Signature Initiatives (high-profile projects that leverage the sesquicentennial to create lasting legacies) are being delivered by third party partners.
• The Ontario150 paid advertising campaign was in-market (i.e., public) from February 7 to March 19, 2017, and ran across TV and Cinema, Social and Online platforms.

Ministry organization chart

• Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Eleanor McMahon
  • Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Harinder Malhi
  • Deputy Minister, Maureen Adamson
    • Executive Assistant to the Deputy Minister, William Snowball
    • Assistant Deputy Minister, Sport, Recreation and Community Programs Division, Steve Harlow
      • Director, Sport, Recreation and Communications Programs Branch, Susan Golets
      • Director, Policy Branch, Anna Ilnyckyj
      • Executive Director (A), Ontario150 Secretariat, Zenia Wadhwani
    • Assistant Deputy Minister, Culture Division, Kevin Finnerty
      • Director, Culture and Strategic Policy Branch, Dawn Landry
      • Director, Programs and Services Branch, Peter Armstrong
      • Director, Culture Agencies Branch, Diane Wise
    • Assistant Deputy Minister (A), Tourism Division, Jennifer Lang
      • Director, Investment and Development Office, Debbie Jewell
      • Director (A), Tourism Policy and Research Branch, Jodi Melnychuk
      • Director (A), Tourism Agencies Branch, Sarah Elliott
    • Assistant Deputy Minister (A), Business Transformation and Project Management Division, Richard McKinnell
      • Director (A), Agency Revitalization Branch, Lindsay Jones
      • Director, Project Management Branch
      • General Manager, Fort William Historical Park, Sergio Buonocore
      • General Manager, Huronia Historical Parks, Will Baird
    • Assistant Deputy Minister/CAO, Regional and Corporate Services Division ^{footnote 1[1]}, Maureen Buckley
      • Director, Human Resources Branch^{footnote 2[2]}, Liborio Campisi
      • Director, Corporate Finance Branch, Tony Marzotto
      • Director, Regional Services and Corporate Support Branch, Neil Coburn
      • Director (A), Corporate Policy and Planning Branch, Joanne Lorenzi
    • Director (A), Corporate Policy and Strategic Initiatives Branch, Barbara Johnston
    • Director (A), Communications Branch^{footnote 3[3]}, Mike Semansky
    • Director (A), Legal,^{footnote 4[4]}, Peter Spencer
    • CIO/Assistant Deputy Minister, Community Services I&IT Cluster^{footnote 5[5]}, Soussan Tabari

Agencies, boards and commissions (ABCs)

The ministry is responsible for the following provincial agencies:

McMichael Canadian Art Collection (MCM): Based on a 1965 donation by the McMichael family, the MCM is the only major public art gallery devoted to the collection and exhibiting of Canadian art.

Metropolitan Toronto Convention Centre Corporation (MTCC): The MTCC manages a world-class convention facility in Toronto with more than 600,000 square feet of exhibit space, meeting rooms, ballroom space and a 1,330-seat theatre to host international and national conventions, trade and consumer shows.

Niagara Parks Commission (NPC): Established in 1885, the NPC is mandated to preserve and enhance the natural beauty of Niagara Falls and the Niagara River corridor for the enjoyment of visitors and future generations.

Ontario Arts Council (OAC) (legally known as the Province of Ontario Council for the Arts): As Ontario's primary funding body for professional arts activities, OAC provides grants, scholarships and awards for the creation of art to benefit and enrich the lives of Ontarians.

Ontario Heritage Trust (OHT): The OHT is mandated to conserve, protect and preserve Ontario’s heritage, including properties of historical, architectural, archaeological, recreational, aesthetic and scenic interest.

Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC): The OMDC stimulates employment, investment and original content creation in Ontario’s cultural media cluster, including book and magazine publishing, film and television, interactive digital media, and live and recorded music.

Ontario Place Corporation (OPC): The OPC is mandated to operate Ontario Place as a provincial exhibit and recreational centre, developing special programs to enhance the image of the province. The OPC is working to revitalize Ontario Place in partnership with the ministry.

Ontario Science Centre (OSC) (legally known as the Centennial Centre of Science and Technology): The OSC depicts, educates and stimulates interest in science and technology and its relationship to society, and Ontario’s role in advancing science and technology.

Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC): The OTMPC promotes Ontario as a travel destination, including joint marketing initiatives in cooperation with the tourism industry, governments and agencies.

Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF): The OTF, a not-for-profit corporation, makes strategic investments of government funding to build healthy and vibrant communities through the arts, culture, sports and recreation, human, social services and the environment.

Ottawa Convention Centre Corporation (OCC): The OCC manages a world-class convention facility in Ottawa. Following extensive redevelopment, the Ottawa Convention Centre re-opened in April 2011. The 200,000 square foot facility hosts international and national conventions and consumer and trade shows.

Royal Ontario Museum (ROM): The ROM promotes education, teaching, research and publication and collects and exhibits objects, documents and books to illustrate the natural history of Ontario, Canada and the world, and human history in all the ages. It is one of the largest museums in North America.

Science North (SCN): SCN features several attractions, including a science centre and model mine. It also conducts public programming throughout Northern Ontario in the origins, development and progress of science and technology and their relationship to society.

St. Lawrence Parks Commission (SLPC): SLPC provides recreational, cultural and heritage and tourism opportunities at its attractions along 200 kilometres of the St. Lawrence River, including the award-winning heritage attractions: Upper Canada Village and Fort Henry National Historic Site of Canada, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Detailed financial information

Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport

The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport provides leadership for the fast-growing tourism, culture and sport sectors of the provincial economy which are fundamental to the prosperity and quality of life of Ontario citizens.

The ministry works with the tourism sector to stimulate economic growth, investment and competitiveness in the rapidly changing world of travel and leisure.

By providing leadership within the arts and culture community, the ministry helps grow the creative economy, build a dynamic cultural environment with vibrant liveable communities in Ontario and encourage stewardship of heritage assets.

The ministry helps broaden participation in sport and recreation to enable Ontarians to lead healthy, active lifestyles and enhances opportunities for high-performance athletes to achieve success. Hosting high-profile sport events increases job creation and encourages economic growth.

Appendix: 2016-17 annual report

2016-17 achievements

Tourism

• Launched Ontario’s Tourism Action Plan in June 2016, which demonstrated the government’s leadership and ongoing commitment to supporting the tourism industry by taking action in key priority areas, while paving the way for the implementation of the broader Strategic Framework. The Tourism Action Plan outlines 12 initial actions to grow tourism in the province.
• Released the Strategic Framework for Tourism in Ontario in November 2016, which builds on the Tourism Action Plan, and expands on the key themes identified in the 2009 Discovering Ontario report and the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario’s Mapping Ontario’s Tourism Future report.
• The Strategic Framework is a tool to guide the work of both government and industry to maximize the growth and competitiveness of Ontario’s tourism sector, and position our province as a global tourism destination of choice. The Framework signifies a shift in the way government and industry work together, encouraging collaborative and innovative approaches to tourism that are outcome-focused.
• Continued implementation of Ontario’s Tourism Action Plan and the Strategic Framework for Tourism in Ontario. Progress to date includes:
  • Worked with the Ministry of Economic Development and Growth to add tourism as the 7th sector in the government’s Red Tape Challenge, which aims to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses
  • Launched the 2017 Celebrate Ontario funding program with improved program guidelines, which includes adding rural and northern Ontario festivals as target sectors, and encouraging festivals and events to apply for enhancements that celebrate Canada150 and Ontario150
  • Supported the development of the Champlain Route for a second year. Provided support for the implementation of the Indigenous Tourism Ontario 2020: Investing in our Future strategy
  • Established a Tourism Research Community of Practice, a volunteer network that increases access and understanding of tourism data through information sharing, building capacity and creating partnerships
  • Worked with the Economic Development Council of Ontario to deliver four tourism investment readiness regional workshops (Kingston, North Bay, Burlington and London) and two investment sessions (Ottawa and Toronto) to help communities generate research-driven, market-ready investment opportunities.
• Initiated the plan to launch Tour by Bike: Ontario’s Cycling Tourism Plan, which supports #CycleON: Ontario’s Cycling Strategy and Ontario’s Trails Strategy, Ontario’s Cycling Tourism Plan will increase and support cycling tourism opportunities in the province, and promote cycling as a tourism draw in Ontario.
• Through the Celebrate Ontario program, supported over 200 festivals and events, the largest number of events ever funded by this program. Events included the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival (Chamberfest), Supercrawl in Hamilton, the Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival, and the Kemptville Live Music Festival.
• Built on the success of the Celebrate Ontario program by revising program guidelines and improving application efficiency and administrative burden reduction for stakeholders by merging the Tourism Event Marketing Program with the Celebrate Ontario program.
• Through the Tourism Development Fund, supported projects aimed at building industry capacity, developing new tourism products and attracting increased investment to Ontario.
• 367 initiatives were approved for Ontario150 Community Celebration Program funding. Examples include 150 Seconds of Ontario Film Festival, Celebrating 150 of Ontario Agriculture, and VIVA ONTARIO 150.
• 12 provincial agencies and attractions had projects approved for funding through the Ontario150 Program for events and exhibitions. Examples include the Indigenous Plant Discovery Trail, the Eve of Confederation, and Out of the Depths: The Blue Whale Story.
• Continued implementation of the Tourism Investment Strategy through completion of in-market investment programs and ongoing work with local municipalities and the Economic Development Council of Ontario. The ministry advanced its work using a one-window approach and continued relationship building with international, federal and provincial government representatives.

Culture

• Launched Ontario’s first Culture Strategy on July 20, 2016, which reflects the conversations government had with Ontarians, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities, about the value of culture in their lives and communities. The Culture Strategy sets out a vision, goals and actions to promote participation in arts and culture, and build on the sector’s economic impact in communities across the province.
• Began implementation of key initiatives within the Culture Strategy, including:
  • Establishing a Ministry-Industry Film and Television Advisory Panel to examine priority issues facing the industry and collaborate on strategies to promote the growth, innovation and global expansion of Ontario's film and television sector
  • Developing the Indigenous Culture Fund by working with the Ontario Arts Council and Indigenous partners across Ontario, and preparing for its launch in 2017-18.
• Continued to build a ‘culture of heritage conservation’ in Ontario, by working with other ministries and provincial agencies, municipalities and heritage stakeholders. This includes government-wide implementation of the Standards and Guidelines for Conservation of Provincial Heritage Properties under the Ontario Heritage Act and the ministry’s role as a commenting and advisory body within the provincial land use planning system under the Planning Act, Environmental Assessment Act and Renewable Energy Approvals process under the Environmental Protection Act.
• Responding to “The Journey Together, Ontario’s Commitment to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples,” the province committed $1.4 million to support the first phase of the Mohawk Institute Residential School’s revitalization.
• Aligning with Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan and the Culture Strategy, the province contributed $1.5 million to assist in transforming the Evergreen Brick Works into one of Canada’s first carbon neutral campuses. The investment supports green design and will showcase the reduction of fossil fuel emissions in existing buildings.
• Supporting the vibrancy of Ontario’s culture sector, the province provided $500,000 over four years to Crow’s Theatre Entrepreneurship in the Arts Program.
• Completed the transfer of capital funding of $3.3 million to revitalize the Blyth Centre for the Arts and to support its transformation into a cultural hub devoted to the development of rural creativity.
• Targeting the Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit to support the core Interactive Digital Media sector, and clarifying eligibility rules and streamlining administration.
• Announced the expansion of Stereo D’s digital media operations in Toronto, working with the Ministry of Economic Development and Growth through the Jobs and Prosperity Fund to support the growth of this company to a total of 358 jobs.

Sport and recreation

• Released the Year One Progress Report for Game ON in December 2016. As part of implementing Game ON, the Premier announced the development of an action plan regarding gender equity in sport and challenged sector partners to do the same.
• The Minister’s Advisory Panel provided advice and guidance to the ministry on how to successfully implement commitments in Game ON. Since then, the panel has provided input to the government on various sport matters.
• Provided approximately $1.3 million across the province to support initiatives designed to advance opportunities for women and girls in sport, including:
  • support to provincial sport organizations delivering sport programs for women and girls
  • funding to support various sport hosting events, including the 2016 World Junior Girls Golf Championship; and
  • 14 grants through the Ontario Sport, Recreation and Communities Fund to support women and girls specific projects.
• Funded Female Coach Salary Partnerships through the Quest for Gold program to assist post-secondary institutions in developing female coaches who will become eligible head coaches in varsity programs.
• Released a renewed Sport Recognition Policy for Provincial and Multi-Sport Organizations that will ensure high quality sport is delivered to Ontarians.
• The Rowan’s Law Advisory Committee Act, 2016 received Royal Assent on June 9, 2016, establishing the Rowan’s Law Advisory Committee. Members of the Committee were appointed in Fall 2016 for a one-year term with a mandate to review the 49 recommendations made in the inquest into the death of Rowan Stringer and provide a report to the Minister in September 2017.
• Hosted a roundtable on concussions for sport leaders and experts to begin discussions at the provincial level on prevention, identification, management and treatment of the concussions experience in organized sports.
• The Ontario Trails Act, 2016 was proclaimed and came into force on September 1, 2016, which will help the trails community more effectively develop, operate and promote trails while enhancing the experience of all trail users.
• Released the Ontario Amateur Sport Fund that aims to build the capacity of provincial and multi-sport organizations.
• Provided $6.3 million to approximately 1,300 high performance athletes through the Quest for Gold Ontario Athlete Assistance Program.
• Delivered the 2016-17 Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund, which funded 19 provincial and 110 local regional projects engaging over 220,000 Ontario participants and 3,889 volunteers, trained over 30,000 individuals in fundamental movement skills and provided employment for over 385 staff.
• Delivered Ontario’s After School Program by targeting priority communities/populations and engaging over 125 organizations that serve over 22,000 children and youth at 400 sites across the province.
• Renewed program support for 2016-19 with 27 First Nation communities participating in the Community Aboriginal Recreation Activators (CARA) program.
• Preparations to host the 2017 North American Indigenous Games are well underway. Ontario is providing $3.5 million to support hosting and delivery of the 2017 North American Indigenous Games.
• As part of “The Journey Together: Ontario’s Commitment to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples” announced on May 30, 2016, the Sport, Recreation and Community Programs Branch is leading the design and delivery of the new Youth Cultural Camps initiative. This initiative is intended to provide community-based cultural programming opportunities to youth to expand understanding of traditional knowledge and languages, and provide leadership skills training to help build resiliency.
• Continued the delivery of the Ontario Games Program, securing new hosts for future Games. Hosting rights for the 2021 Canada Games were awarded to the Niagara Region.
• Successfully hosted the Ontario Summer Games in Mississauga, the largest Ontario Games in the province’s history. The Ontario 55+ Summer Games were hosted in Midland and the Ontario ParaSport Games and the Ontario 55+ Winter Games were hosted in Brantford/Brant and Cobourg respectively. The ministry also successfully secured host municipalities for the 2018 Ontario Winter Games (Orillia), 2018 Ontario Summer Games (London) and 2018 Ontario 55+ Summer Games (Mississauga) through a competitive bid process.
• Established first Team Ontario Mission Staff, who began preparation for Team Ontario’s participation in the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg.
• Following its selection as the host province for the 2017 Invictus Games, Ontario committed support to hosting the 2017 Invictus Games.
• Revised the Ontario Sport Hosting Program to position the province as a key destination for national and international sporting events. Revisions included a new eligibility category that allows national events to apply for support, and instituting a 90-day service guarantee for funding decisions.
• Continued to fund the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO) to support Ontario’s high-performance athletes and coaches in CSIO’s new facilities.

Agencies and attractions

• The Royal Ontario Museum experienced record-breaking attendance of 1.35 million visitors in 2016-17. This represents a 23% increase from the previous year.
• In 2016-17, the Art Gallery of Ontario had the highest annual attendance level since the Gallery reopened in 2008 following Transformation AGO, in part due to the success of the Mystical Landscapes: Masterpieces from Monet, Van Gogh and more exhibition that broke into the list of top 10 most-visited exhibitions in AGO history.
• In 2016-17, Ontario Arts Council moved to an online granting system and completed a major re-design of all its granting programs.
• In 2016-17, the Ontario Trillium Foundation invested almost $76.3 million in 434 initiatives to build healthy and vibrant communities throughout the province. Additionally, the Ontario Trillium Foundation invested $22.3 million in 203 initiatives in support of the ON150 Community Capital Program.
• In 2016-17, Science North opened a new outdoor science park at its Dynamic Earth location. The science park is the first of its kind in Northern Ontario and one of the largest in Canada, and features full-size mining equipment alongside science-themed interactive structures which highlight Sudbury’s rich mining history and its strong heritage of earth sciences.
• In 2016-17, the Ontario Science Centre and Science North co-developed and featured an exciting and engaging new travelling exhibit on extreme weather and climate change. The exhibition was displayed at Science North in the spring of 2016 and at the Ontario Science Centre in the fall of that same year.
• In 2016-17, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection hosted its most successful ever annual McMichael Moonlight Gala, raising over $350,000 for educational programming and exhibitions.
• In 2016-17, the Ontario Media Development Corporation provided 190 grants totalling about $15 million through the Ontario Music Fund, a program that supports music businesses that produce, distribute and promote Ontario-based music and artists.
• In 2016-17, Ontario Heritage Trust's Doors Open Ontario program attracted over 500,000 visitors and generated over $5 million in local economies.
• The Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC) completed redevelopment of its digital marketing infrastructure to provide consumers with more compelling and accessible travel information and decision-making tools. OTMPC initiated a popular new Ontario tourism brand platform, "WhereAmI?" in Ontario and Quebec.
• The Niagara Parks Commission opened a new zip line attraction, providing a new source of revenue to the agency and new way for visitors to experience Niagara Falls.
• St. Lawrence Parks Commission opened Skywood Eco Adventure Park which includes zip lines, aerial games and children’s activities. Additional investment in new cabins and upgraded campsites increased the use and enjoyment of its parks and campgrounds, trails and beaches.
• The Metro Toronto Convention Centre’s 2016-17 gross revenues forecast is $64.2 million and is expected to generate an estimated $400 million in economic activity for the province.
• The Ottawa Convention Centre hosted 487 events in 2016-17.
• In 2016-17, Huronia Historical Parks launched new products and special events such as the Skate Trail and evening programming at both attractions (St. Marie Among the Hurons and Discovery Harbour) that expanded the operating season and substantially increased attendance and revenue.
• Fort William Historical Park was awarded the prestigious Parks Canada National Cultural Tourism Award through the Tourism Industry Association of Canada. This award recognizes a tourism organization that has demonstrated a commitment to culture as a key aspect of encouraging and promoting tourism growth in their region.
• Fort William Historical Park (FWHP) continues to be a vital and valuable supporter of community and regional events as well as communication of FWHP's cultural, educational and business messages have led to increased community engagement. FWHP achieves numerous outreach opportunities serving Northern Ontario with specific programs geared to support children and youth with a special focus on the Francophone and Indigenous communities.
• Continued progress was made towards the phased revitalization of Ontario Place into a year-round, landmark waterfront destination for all Ontarians and visitors to enjoy. The first phase of Ontario Place Revitalization includes the construction of a 7.5-acre park and trail, which is on track for completion and opening in 2017. The trail connects to more than 2,000 kilometres along the Trans Canada Trail in Ontario. As of November 2016, nearly 300 people had worked on site, virtually all of them based in Ontario. Activation of the site is also on track for the summer of 2017.

Ontario150 secretariat

• The 2016 Ontario Budget included a commitment to work with community organizations, municipalities and the federal government to produce Ontario150 programming to commemorate the sesquicentennial for Ontarians in all regions of the province.
• Three application-based granting programs, open to community groups, municipalities, First Nations and Indigenous community organizations, were launched on July 6 , 2016, supporting over 650 successful projects:
  • The Ontario150 Community Capital Program ($25 million), to support the repair, renovation and retrofit of community facilities
  • The Ontario150 Community Celebration Program ($7 million), to support communities in celebrating and commemorating the sesquicentennial
  • The Ontario150 Partnership Program ($5 million), to engage and empower youth as leaders, learners and innovators.
• On September 16, 2016, the Ontario150 program was publically launched in Ottawa.