Ontario provides boost to agricultural and horticultural societies

Province invests in local agricultural and horticultural societies to support their long standing traditions.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 11, 2022

SIMCOE – The Ontario government is providing $39,399.01 to support Haldimand-Norfolk agricultural and horticultural societies. The news was shared by Toby Barrett, MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk. This investment will help these organizations continue to operate and support their important efforts to educate people about the value and significance of agriculture in the province.

“The agriculture and horticulture societies of Haldimand-Norfolk are an important part of the culture of our area,” Barrett said. “In particular, the area is renowned for its first-rate fairs.”

The funding is part of the Agricultural and Horticultural Support and Recovery

Funding Initiative. This new funding builds on previous investments of more than $7 million to assist these organizations across the province over the past two years. 

The local funding breakdown is:

Argyle Horticultural Society1000
Caledonia Agricultural Society$7,361.08
Charlotteville Agricultural Society$1,378.00
Delhi & District Horticultural Society$1,000.00
Dunnville Agricultural Society$1,266.44
Dunnville Horticultural Society$1,000.00
Haldimand Horticultural Society$1,000.00
Houghton Agricultural Society$1,016.04
Norfolk County Agricultural Society$21,377.45
North Walsingham Agricultural Society$1,000.00
Port Dover & Woodhouse Horticultural Society$1,000.00
Simcoe & District Horticultural Society$1,000.00

There are two streams to this round of funding.:

  • Base Support Funding will be issued to all eligible Agricultural and Horticultural Societies through funding payments of $1,000 as a means of supporting their continued incorporation and activities.
  • Hardship Funding for eligible Agricultural Societies will provide additional support which will be based on reported gate revenues from 2019. This will help off-set operating losses, liabilities, and fixed overhead costs related to land and buildings.

“Ontario’s agricultural and horticultural societies have long-enriched communities throughout the province and we look forward to them continuing to make significant contributions, from main street beautification projects to hosting the long-standing tradition of agricultural fairs, throughout the province in 2022,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “These investments reflect the value of the societies’ contributions and our government’s recognition of the pandemic-caused pressures these organizations have been weathering.”

Agricultural and Horticultural Societies play a critical role in educating Ontarians on the importance of agriculture and celebrating a rural way of life. Supporting this important sector, at this time, will ensure the long traditions and economic contributions of the societies will continue and strengthen as the province manages the impacts of COVID-19 and moves forward into the future.

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For more information, contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446 or toby.barrett@pc.ola.org