TD Ottawa Jazz Festival receives Celebrate Ontario Funding to enhance programming and increase tourism

The Board of Directors of the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival are pleased to announce that the 35th edition of the Festival will be enhancing its programming and offering a new and expanded selection of artists, thanks to $270,000 in funding from the Government of Ontario’s Celebrate Ontario program. This funding will increase sales and attract more out-of-province tourists to the event. Of the 305,500 that attended the Festival in 2014, 21% of visitors were from out of town, contributing $22.8 million to Ottawa’s economic impact. Tourism spending and economic impact increased by 29% in 2014, according to its annual survey. Two-thirds of Festival tourists indicated that they came specifically to attend the Festival. What began as a weekend of outdoor jazz in Major’s Hill Park back in 1980 has evolved into one of the National Capital Region’s most highly anticipated musical events of the summer. “The Government of Ontario’s investment in the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival perpetuates continued growth and a viable return on investment for our community”, says Executive Producer Catherine O’Grady. “This investment allows us to present the very best in programming, thereby reinforcing Ottawa as an important cultural destination for tourists around the world.”