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Ontario 400th Celebrations Program
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Ontario, Canada
Funding for cultural and tourism events celebrating Francophone heritage in Ontario
Grant and Funding
Overview
The Ontario 400th Celebrations Program provides project-based funding of up to $1.4 million to community organizations, municipalities, and other eligible groups. This program supports local cultural and tourism events that commemorate the 400th anniversary of the francophone presence in Ontario.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increasing community impact
- Raise awareness and mobilize the public
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Timeline
- Closing date : February 11, 2015
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Language Minorities
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- General public
- Rural / Remote communities
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Artists / creatives
- Nonprofits / charities
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Local
- Municipal
Activities funded
- Planning and organizing local cultural events commemorating the 400th anniversary of francophone presence in Ontario.
- Hosting tourism events to attract visitors celebrating francophone heritage.
- Community-led initiatives highlighting the contributions of Franco-Ontarians.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 875,000
Tourism campaign for Franco-Ontarian historical walking tours
$ 1,375,000
Hosting a Francophone heritage festival featuring local artisans
$ 350,000
Digital storytelling workshops sharing Franco-Ontarian histories
$ 400,000
Francophone youth theatre showcasing historical narratives
$ 665,000
Commemorative mural project celebrating Franco-Ontarian pioneers
$ 200,000
Public exhibition of Francophone culinary traditions and tastings
Eligibility
- The applicant must be a community organization, municipality, or similar entity.
- The proposed project must involve planning local cultural or tourism events that commemorate the 400th anniversary of Francophone presence in Ontario.
Who is eligible?
- Community organizations
- Municipalities
- Other entities wishing to organize cultural or tourism events
Eligible geographic areas
- Communities located within the province of Ontario, Canada.
How to apply
1
Verify eligibility requirements
- Review the eligibility criteria for the Ontario 400th Celebrations Program
- Identify if your organization is a community group, municipality, or eligible entity
- Ensure your proposed event aligns with the francophone commemoration or cultural objectives
2
Prepare event and funding details
- Gather detailed information about your planned event
- Prepare event name, description, date(s), and location information
- Estimate the funding amount needed
3
Download forms and instructions
- Download the application guidelines and required forms
- Access the data and resources on the Ontario government website
- Review submission instructions and deadlines
4
Complete the application forms
- Complete all applicable application forms accurately
- Ensure all supporting documents are attached
- Review for completeness and eligibility before submission
5
Submit the application package
- Submit your completed application and all required documents before the deadline
- Ensure the application is sent via the specified submission method
Additional information
- The dataset of funded projects is available in both English and French.
- The program focused on commemorating the 400th anniversary of Francophone presence in Ontario through events in 2015.
- The total available funding under the program was up to $1.4 million.
- Events marked the anniversary of Samuel de Champlain’s passage through Ontario.
