Marc G. Serré, Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages, today announced a FedNor investment of $679,505 in Economic Partners-Sudbury East/West Nipissing Inc. to support the Northern Ontario Agri-Food Pavilion at the 2023 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, which will take place November 3-11, 2023 at Exhibition Place in Toronto. The announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor.

The Northern Ontario Agri-Food Pavilion provides exhibitors from the region an opportunity to showcase their products and services on an international stage at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, the largest indoor agricultural and equestrian event in the world. The Royal sees over 300,000 visitors annually. Since 2015, exhibitors at the Northern Ontario Agri-Food Pavilion generated over $7.2 million in on-site and projected sales. The Royal did not take place in 2020 and 2021 as a result of the pandemic. Over 45 agri-food producers and organizations from Northern Ontario will participate in this year’s fair through the pavilion.

Quotes

“We are excited to support the participation of growers and producers from Northern Ontario in the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. The agri-food sector of Northern Ontario is rich with iconic Canadian goods and services, and today’s investment of $679,505 will help showcase those goods and services on the international stage at The Royal.”

• The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor

“This investment will further help agri-food businesses in Northern Ontario, including in Nickel Belt, to continue to grow and succeed.. Supporting the Northern Ontario Agri-Food Pavilion means creating an opportunity for the rest of the world to discover the wonderful offerings our region brings to the table. Big thank you to Nicole and the entire team at nickel City Cheese in Chelmsford for hosting today’s announcement.”

• Marc G. Serré, Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages

“We are proud to partner with FedNor in creating the wonderful opportunity for our region that is the Northern Ontario Agri-Food Pavilion. Every year the pavilion features incredible products and services from across Northern Ontario, and we are confident that this year’s offerings will once again demonstrate why the pavilion is not to be missed.”

• Patrick Keough, Chair of the Board of Directors, Economic Partners Sudbury East/West Nipissing Inc. 

Quick facts

• The FedNor-supported Northern Ontario Agri-Food Pavilion has been a part of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair since 2001, and has more than tripled in size and number of exhibitors since then.
• The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair began in 1922, making the indoor agricultural and equestrian event over 100 years old.
• The funds announced today are provided through FedNor’s Northern Ontario Development Program, through which FedNor invests in projects led by municipalities, First Nations, and other organizations and institutions that support community economic development, diversification, job creation and self-reliant communities in Northern Ontario.
• The many investments announced by the regional development agencies (RDAs) in projects that contribute to community vitality demonstrate the importance of economic development right across the country.

Associated links

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