Bas-Saint-Laurent Tourism — EPRTNT 2025-2027 – Festivals and Events

• Completed and signed application form submitted in Excel format
• Programming or draft programming of the upcoming event
• Most recent event report, if available
• Most recent financial statements of the organization, including income and expenses for the event
• Forecast income and expenses for the upcoming event
• Board resolution (or equivalent) authorizing the signatory of the funding application
• Confirmations from financial partners, if available
• OQLF attestation or certification, where required
• Proof of Qualité-Sécurité d’Aventure Écotourisme Québec process for nature and adventure tourism companies, if applicable
• Indigenous certificate or certification confirming Indigenous status, if applicable

• The applicant must be a legally constituted tourism enterprise or organization doing business in Quebec.
• The organization must belong to one of the following: for-profit, non-profit, cooperative, municipal entity, Indigenous community or nation, or a grouping of these clients.
• The project must be a public festival or event held in Bas-Saint-Laurent that attracts a significant number of visitors.
• The event must be recurring (minimum three days, annual or biennial) or a one-off or sports event with a defined theme and program.
• The project must present at least $100,000 in eligible costs and comply with applicable sector regulations (e.g. accommodation registration, adventure tourism safety standards).

Who is eligible?

• For-profit tourism enterprises
• Non-profit tourism organizations
• Tourism cooperatives
• Municipal entities involved in tourism
• Recognized Indigenous communities, nations and Indigenous tourism organizations
• Groupings of the above eligible clienteles

Who is not eligible

• Crown corporations and departments or agencies of the governments of Quebec and Canada.
• Organizations listed in the Register of enterprises ineligible for public contracts.
• Enterprises not compliant with the francization process of the Office québécois de la langue française.
• Projects consisting of regular programming of an attraction, trade shows, tourism marketplaces, conferences, congresses, stand-alone shows, fairs and markets not targeting gourmet tourism, or exhibitions without additional programming.

Eligible expenses

• Administration costs for the supported edition of the event.
• Programming costs for activities and content.
• Promotion, marketing and communication expenses.
• Site management and installation costs.
• Costs of products intended for resale.
• Travel expenses within public service scales, general expenses, salaries and benefits for promoter staff linked to the event.
• Audited in-kind sponsorships of goods and services, up to 50% of total eligible costs.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Costs for activities not related to organizing and holding the event.
• Capital expenditures for acquiring equipment (depreciation).
• Working capital, debt service, operating losses, capital losses and capital buybacks.
• Costs for bringing assets up to standard, asset maintenance and regulatory compliance.
• Non-refundable portions of sales taxes and other refundable costs.
• In-kind donations and services that are not audited, and asset transfers.
• Regular maintenance costs and financing fees.
• Lobbyist remuneration, cost overruns and legal fees.
• Purchase of motorized transport equipment not dedicated to visitor experience.

Eligible geographic areas

• Companies and organizations operating festivals and events held in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec.

• Alignment with EPRTNT objectives and regional tourism priorities.
• Structuring impact, including attractiveness, project reach, economic spin-offs, partnerships and job creation.
• Innovative character and quality of the concept, products and services.
• Strength of the financial structure and overall project relevance, including target markets and marketing strategy.
• Feasibility of the project and consideration of sustainable development principles.

• Step 1: Validate Eligibility
  • Use the self-assessment tool to confirm your organization and project meet eligibility conditions.
• Step 2: Obtain Application Form
  • Request the official EPRTNT-BSL – Festivals and events application form from Tourisme Bas-Saint-Laurent.
• Step 3: Complete Application
  • Fill out the Excel application form and gather all required supporting documents.
• Step 4: Submit Application
  • Send the completed and signed form with all required documents by email to programmes@bassaintlaurent.ca before the call deadline.

• Tourisme Bas-Saint-Laurent verifies project eligibility and may request clarifications from the promoter.
• The project is analyzed and evaluated, and a management committee makes a funding recommendation.
• The promoter receives a letter either announcing the amount awarded or refusing the application.
• Approved projects require the signing of a financial assistance agreement.
• Applicants should expect a response at least two months after the call-for-projects deadline.

• Financial support is non-repayable and may be refused depending on analysis and budget availability.
• Applicants should allow at least two months after each call deadline to receive a funding decision.
• Events must not be completed or in progress at the time the application is submitted.
• Development-durable (sustainable development) practices and innovative, responsible approaches are taken into account in the assessment.