An independent registry of Northern Ontario funding Data updated Aug 17, 2026 · CC-BY-4.0
Northern Ontario Grants

Tourism operators

First, the question everyone asks: the Tourism Growth Program is closed, intake ended in September 2024 and funding agreements terminate March 31, 2026. Nothing tourism-specific replaced it at that scale, so product and capital projects now route through the general anchors: FedNor's NODP (officer-mediated, repayable for profit-generating projects) and NOHFC's Invest North streams (conditional contributions, expect to carry roughly half). Destination Northern Ontario, the regional tourism organization for the entire North, runs cost-matched partnership initiatives (typically modest) and the Tourism Excellence North development program. Seasonal wages are the reliable win: Canada Summer Jobs allocations run per federal riding, which favours the North, non-profits get 100% of minimum wage, small private operators 50%. Some cities add their own funds; Thunder Bay's tourism development fund is reported at up to $500,000.

Capital projects: back to the general anchors

A lodge expansion, new attraction or major refit now runs through FedNor's NODP (call an officer first, budget availability is limited and the site says so itself) and NOHFC's Invest North streams via the MyNOHFC portal. Both are conditional and partly repayable; budget your half.

Destination Northern Ontario for the softer money

RTO13 runs cost-matched partnership initiatives, typically modest in scale, plus Tourism Excellence North, a development and training program that also strengthens later funding applications. It's the right first conversation for marketing and product-development collaboration.

Staff up with Canada Summer Jobs

Per-riding allocations favour northern ridings. Applications run roughly November to mid-December for the following summer, a bad fit with tourism's planning rhythm, so calendar it. Private operators with 50 or fewer employees get a reported 50% of minimum wage; non-profit operations get 100%.

Check your municipality

Several northern cities run their own tourism or event funds, Thunder Bay's development fund is reported at up to $500,000 and its event fund at up to $50,000. Ask your local economic development office what exists before assuming the big agencies are the only route.

Programs for you (9)

Status unconfirmed

Canada Summer Jobs

Employment and Social Development Canada

Varies; see program

confirm with funder

canada.ca · Last verified Aug 16, 2026 · Reported, verification pending

Open, continuous intakePartly repayable, check terms

DNO Partnership Initiatives

Destination Northern Ontario (RTO13)

Varies; see program

no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle

destinationnorthernontario.ca · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Open, continuous intakePartly repayable, check terms

Tourism Excellence North

Destination Northern Ontario (RTO13)

Not published

no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle

Common questions

  • Is the Tourism Growth Program still open?
  • What replaced TGP for Northern Ontario operators?
  • How do I fund a new lodge, attraction or experience?
  • What covers my summer and seasonal staff wages?
  • Is there marketing or partnership money for operators?

Longer answers are in the guides.

Common questions

Is the Tourism Growth Program coming back?

It is closed, intake ended September 2024, and agreements terminate March 31, 2026. No announcement of a successor program at that scale has been made; plan around FedNor, NOHFC, and Destination Northern Ontario instead.

Is Destination Northern Ontario money a grant?

It's partnership co-investment: cost-matched, project-based, and typically modest, closer to a marketing collaboration than a capital grant. Its Tourism Excellence North program is training and development support rather than funding.

Can an outfitter or lodge get NOHFC funding?

Yes, as a business, through the Invest North streams, on the same terms as any other operator: conditional contributions, roughly half the costs yours, continuous intake, board-cycle approvals.