A cultural celebration received a boost for its second annual event.
The Punjabi Cultural Festival picked up $54,000 from the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) Tourism Grant Committee for the Khalsa Day celebration and Jazzy B concert held last weekend.
"We are immensely grateful to the MAT Tourism Grant Committee for their generous support and recognition of our festival and community," said Kanwaljit Bains, festival organizer, in a news release.
"This contribution will enable us to continue promoting our vibrant culture and heritage to a wider audience, fostering inclusivity and celebrating diversity within our city."
The cash is collected through a four-per-cent charge on hotels, motels and other short-term accommodations. The city has been collecting the tax since 2019. Half of what's collected is redistributed into the community for tourism activities. The city partnered with the Timmins Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) to be the not-for-profit entity to reinvest the cash.
The other half of the money goes to city coffers. Council has the final decision on how that portion is spent.
