Friday, March 21, 2008

UCV will be going medieval this summer; Funding announced by provincial ministry


Upper Canada village is going medieval this summer, thanks to funding announced Monday by local MPP Jim Brownell.

The money was provided for the village's new Medieval Festival through Celebrate Ontario, a Ministry of Tourism initiative meant to develop new festivals and increase tourism revenue in the province.

"This support, and these festivals, will go a long way in strengthening our local brand as an ideal tourism destination spot," said Brownell, who spent time at the historic village Monday morning before heading back to Toronto for the resumption of the Ontario Legislature.

Upper Canada Village, part of the St. Lawrence Parks Commission, received $75,000 to develop the festival, which is currently slated for June 13 to 15, 2008.

"There's going to be falconry, a jousting tournament, sword swallowers and other medieval buskers, belly dancers, things like that," said Jancis Sommerville, marketing officer for Upper Canada Village, who was dressed in a medieval gown and headdress for the occasion.

"We're hoping to have a king's banquet, which is like a huge feast, on the Saturday night."
Sommerville added that the village would also be including forms of medieval technology, like a catapult, period dress, and games to make the event educational, as well as entertaining.

"We've been told that the study of this period fits into the Grade 4 curriculum, and we're hoping that schools will take advantage of that," said Susan LeClair, corporate marketing officer for the St. Lawrence Parks Commission.

On top of the money for the festival, the provincial government will also be providing more than $70,000 for a new tented performance pavilion as part of the celebration for the 50th anniversary of the St. Lawrence Seaway.

The new pavilion will be located near the S.t Lawrence Parks Commission marina, not far from Upper Canada Village, and will be built in time for a theatrical performance this summer, the
details of which are yet to be determined.
"We're very excited to be able to have a new venue to host even more events," said St. Lawrence Parks Commission CEO Pat Macdonald.

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