Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean Tourism — EPRTNT 2025-2027 – Festivals and Events

• Completed and signed application form in Excel format
• Supporting documents demonstrating sustainable development measures, if applicable
• Upcoming event program or draft program
• Most recent event report, if available
• Most recent financial statements and revenue–expense statement for the event
• Forecast revenue–expense budget for the upcoming event
• Confirmations from financial partners, if available
• Board resolution (or equivalent) authorizing the funding application
• OQLF compliance attestation or certificate, if required
• Proof of Qualité-Sécurité accreditation or commitment for nature and adventure tourism businesses, if applicable
• Indigenous certificate or attestation confirming Indigenous status, if applicable

• The applicant must be a legally constituted tourism organization or eligible public entity under Quebec or Canadian law.
• The organization must conduct its activities in Quebec.
• The project must be a festival or event held in Quebec that attracts a significant number of excursionists and tourists and contributes to destination animation.
• The project must align with the general and regional objectives of the EPRTNT, including responsible and sustainable tourism development.
• The festival or event must have a minimum operating budget of $60,000.

Who is eligible?

• Tourism businesses operating as for-profit organizations
• Non-profit tourism organizations
• Tourism cooperatives
• Municipal entities
• Recognized Indigenous communities, nations, organizations and tourism enterprises, or groupings of these clienteles

Who is not eligible

• Crown corporations and ministries or agencies of the Quebec and Canadian governments
• Applicants listed in the Register of enterprises ineligible for public contracts
• Businesses not compliant with the francization process of the Office québécois de la langue française

Eligible expenses

• Administration, operating and programming costs related to the event
• Promotion, marketing and communication expenses
• Site and facility management fees
• Costs of products intended for resale
• Travel expenses within public sector scales, overhead, salaries and benefits linked to the event
• Audited in-kind sponsorships of goods and services (up to 50% of total eligible costs)
• Net taxes (non‑refundable portion) related to eligible costs

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Activities not related to holding and organizing the event
• Capital expenditures for equipment purchases (depreciation)
• Working capital, debt service, operating losses, capital losses and capital buybacks
• Costs for bringing assets up to standard, maintaining assets or regulatory compliance
• Recoverable portions of sales taxes and other refundable costs
• Donations and in‑kind or service contributions that are not audited
• Asset transfers
• Routine maintenance expenses
• Financing costs and legal fees
• Cost overruns
• Purchase of motorized transport equipment not dedicated to visitor experience

Eligible geographic areas

• Companies and organizations doing business in Quebec, with projects serving the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean tourism region

• Alignment with EPRTNT objectives and regional strategic itinerary.
• Structuring impact, including attraction power, regional benefits and partnership synergies.
• Innovative character and quality of the concept, products and services.
• Financial structure, relevance to target tourist markets and marketing strategy.
• Feasibility, promoter expertise and integration of sustainable development practices.

• Step 1: Initial Contact
  • Contact the product development advisor (Tourisme Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean) to validate project eligibility and obtain the official application form.
• Step 2: Prepare Application
  • Complete the self-evaluation forms and the financial assistance application form.
  • Compile all required supporting documents, including those related to sustainable development measures if applicable.
• Step 3: Submit Application
  • Email the completed forms and all required documents to the address provided (drowsome@tourismesaglac.net).

• Financial assistance is provided as a non-repayable contribution.
• Projects must integrate a responsible and sustainable tourism approach.
• Projects with strong sustainable development components may access higher funding.
• Previous commitments toward partners must be respected to remain eligible for new support.