An unexpected surprise played out this morning at Hollinger Park.
The Timmins Economic Development Corporation presented a $175,000 cheque to the Timmins Festivals and Events Committee to help cover the costs of the upcoming Rock on the River: Reconnect.
The money is from the municipal accommodation tax. TFEC vice-chair Jeremy Wilson says support like this is critical.
“We can’t do something of this magnitude without the support of the whole community,” he claims. “It just goes to show that the community is really behind us and the whole community needs this.”
Wilson says the earlier $250,000 from the Ontario Reconnect Fund is the spark that got T-FEC to do it right away.
“And that’s when we met with the city, put in our application, the also saw value in it and then that’s when they came aboard and we can’t be more thankful to them.”
The tax is levied every time someone rents a hotel room or other temporary accommodation in the city. The revenue is dedicated to local tourism promotion and activities.
With files from Shane Button, MyTimminsNow.com staff