Special Events Stabilization Initiative (SESI) $2 million in Funding to Support Toronto’s Festivals
Mayor Olivia Chow announced the City of Toronto’s new Special Events Stabilization Initiative (SESI), a one-year pilot grant program providing a total of up to $2 million in financial relief to local special event organizers affected by rising operating costs, especially those related to health, safety and security of the general public and event attendees.
Toronto’s festivals are critical to the vitality, prosperity and liveability of the city and provide economic benefits to local businesses.
Mayor Olivia Chow announced the creation of the new program at the Festival of South Asia (Gerrard India Bazaar BIA) alongside Councillor Paula Fletcher (Toronto Danforth) and Councillor Shelley Carroll (Don Valley North).
SESI will be launched in August and run as a one-year pilot program. It is expected to support approximately 40 special event organizers by helping to defray the significant financial pressures facing not-for-profit special event organizers from the increased costs in recent years related to public safety measures, such as security, crowd management, insurance and health and safety.
For a full listing of eligibility criteria, please visit the website at Special Event Stabilization Initiative – City of Toronto.
Applications will open on August 19th at 9:00am, and will be accepted until September 30th at 5:00pm.
The City will continue to work with festival organizers to support their planning and success while also advocating to other orders of government for long-term support for local festivals.
This summer, the City encourages residents and visitors to enjoy the many festivals that animate Toronto from Scarborough to Etobicoke and everywhere in between. Check out our events calendar or Toronto BIAs here.
To learn more, please drop-in to the City of Toronto SESI virtual information session. The session will take place on August 7th at 7:00pm. Additional registration information will be made available on the website.
For questions or inquiries, please email sesi@toronto.ca