Hamilton, ON – An expanded second edition of the Black Tourism “Spark” Mentorships & Grants Program was officially launched at the Ontario Tourism Summit in Hamilton on October 22nd, 2024. The initiative aims to spark and support new Black-led tourism ideas and businesses in Ontario’s Southwest and Hamilton Halton Brant regions.
The Black Tourism “Spark” Program pairs selected applicants with mentors, provides $3,000 in seed funding, and $2,000 in tech adoption support to help bring their tourism ideas to life. This is the first program of its kind in Canada, focusing on supporting new Black-led tourism initiatives.
First-round Black Tourism “Spark” Program winners include:
- COOK-UP Inc. – hosting new culinary tourism experiences in Windsor
- W.E. Ride & Dine – offering Black history, culture & food tours in Windsor Essex
- London Artisan Connection – launched the inaugural Carnival London this past July, and planning a bigger festival in 2025
The Black Tourism “Spark” Program is a collaborative initiative co-developed and delivered by a diverse group of organizations and individuals, including the Tourism Innovation Lab, Ontario’s Southwest Regional Tourism Organization, Hamilton Halton Brant Regional Tourism Organization, Empowerment Squared through the Southwestern Ontario Black Entrepreneurship Network (SWOBEN), WEtech Alliance, and Black tourism entrepreneurs and working group members from across the region, and with funding support from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
“The Tourism Innovation Lab has been working for over 5 years to inspire and support new tourism ideas and innovators across Ontario,”
Ontario’s Southwest Regional Tourism Organization
“Building on the remarkable success of last year’s Black Tourism Spark Program, we are thrilled to see its expansion into a new region. Each year, we are consistently amazed by the creativity, passion, and fresh ideas that emerge from our collaboration with the Tourism Innovation Lab and its partners as we ask, ‘What’s your new tourism idea?’ We have no doubt this year’s program will inspire the same level of innovation and excitement.” said Joanne Wolnik, Executive Director of Ontario’s Southwest Regional Tourism Organization.
Hamilton Halton Brant Regional Tourism Association
“Our organization is committed to supporting collaboration, innovation and sustainability in its tourism business development priorities. Our new partnership with Tourism Innovation Lab and its partners provides inspiration and strategic business development support to build thriving tourism industry oriented businesses that will contribute to growing Ontario’s visitor economy.” said Maria Fortunato, Executive Director of the Hamilton Halton Brant Regional Tourism Association.
Empowerment Squared’s Southwestern Ontario Black Entrepreneurship Network (SWOBEN)
“Empowerment Squared is pleased to continue its partnership and its support of the second year of this successful program within the Black community throughout southwestern Ontario! The Ontario’s Southwest Black Tourism “Spark” Program is in perfect alignment with the mission & goals of SWOBEN!” said Colin Grimmond, Coordinator, Professional Skills & Entrepreneurship with Empowerment Squared.
Tourism Innovation Lab
“The Tourism Innovation Lab has been working for over 5 years to inspire and support new tourism ideas and innovators across Ontario, with a goal to make the sector more diverse, equitable and inclusive. We are thrilled to be launching a second round of the Black Tourism “Spark” Program and expanding it across Ontario’s Southwest and Hamilton Halton Brant” said Justin Lafontaine, Program Lead, Tourism Innovation Lab.
Two region-wide virtual info sessions will be held for prospective applicants
Applications will be accepted until November 27th, 2024 from Black entrepreneurs, Black owned & operated businesses, and Black-led non-profit organizations and community groups based in Ontario’s Southwest and Hamilton Halton Brant. Following a juried review process, finalists will be invited to a pitch session to select three winners.
Two region-wide virtual info sessions will be held for prospective applicants:
For more information visit www.tourisminnovation.ca/BlackTourism
Ontario’s Southwest Regional Tourism Organization
Ontario’s Southwest (OSW) is a Regional Tourism Organization, funded through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, and is governed by an industry-led Board of Directors from across the region. OSW works collaboratively with tourism stakeholders to uphold OSW’s vision to be a year-round destination that offers highly sought experiences for visitors and residents, while working towards the mission of creating a “vibrant and inclusive tourism sector that balances the needs of our visitors, tourism partners, communities, and environment”.
Hamilton Halton Brant Regional Tourism Association
The Hamilton Halton Brant Regional Tourism Association (HHBRTA) is an independent, industry-led, not-for-profit organization, responsible for working with tourism partners to enhance and grow tourism products and marketing activities, with the intent of increasing visitors, generating more economic activity, creating more tourism jobs and sustainability, capturing unique product clusters and integrating existing brands and partnerships. HHBRTA is governed by a volunteer industry-lead Board of Directors and is funded by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Gaming.
Empowerment Squared’s Southwestern Ontario Black Entrepreneurship Network (SWOBEN)
SWOBEN is the initiative of an amazing consortium of 5 organizations led by Empowerment Squared and WEtech Alliance. Empowerment Squared, although based in Hamilton, works primarily in Southwestern Ontario and West Africa. WEtech Alliance is one of the seventeen Regional Innovation Centres in the Province of Ontario. It has served as a catalyst for technology and innovation in the Windsor-Essex County regions. SWOBEN receives funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
The Tourism Innovation Lab is a non-profit initiative created to find, foster and support new tourism ideas, experiences and partnerships, to cultivate and propel collaborations between the tourism and tech sectors, and to build a community of tourism innovators, idea makers and entrepreneurs in Canada. First launched in 2018, the Lab and its “Spark” Program are now offered across British Columbia and Ontario. The Tourism Innovation Lab is a program of Hackforge and is based in Windsor, Ontario.
Media Contact:
Justin Lafontaine, Program Lead
Tourism Innovation Lab
416-712-8819
info@tourisminnovation.ca