Three large Canada Day celebrations in Mississauga have received extra money with which to stage their events this summer.

Celebrations to take place on July 1 in Port Credit, Malton and Streetsville — organized by the respective business improvement areas — had their funding topped up on Wednesday by a unanimous vote of city council.

All three BIAs had received financial help earlier this year through the City of Mississauga’s annual Cultural Festivals and Celebrations Grant Program.

However, the funding received in each case was less than what the business associations had requested.

The Port Credit BIA received $137,000 of a requested $197,627, the Malton BIA received $15,000 of the $27,000 it requested and the Streetsville BIA was awarded $20,000 of its $40,000 ask.

A motion tabled Wednesday morning by Ward 1 Coun. Stephen Dasko asking for the financial shortfall in each case to be awarded to the BIA groups — an additional $60,627 for Port Credit, $12,000 for Malton and $20,000 for Streetsville — was adopted by council.

The extra cash will come from the city’s Municipal Accommodation Tax fund, which collects money via visitors to the city paying a six per cent tax during short-term stays.

Representatives from Port Credit and Streetsville BIAs who appeared before council on Wednesday said the additional funding is needed to help offset the impact of rising costs and decreasing corporate sponsorships for the large-scale patriotic celebrations.

The chair of the Malton BIA submitted a letter to council earlier identifying similar concerns that prompted the request for extra funding.

In supporting the motion, Ward 5 Coun. Natalie Hart, who represents Malton, said Canada Day events “have never been more important to our country than they are now.”

Dasko stated in his motion that full funding for the three celebrations is justified as “Canada Day is a day of immense significance” and “spectacular Canada Day celebrations and festivities are held across our country and city each year where Canadians patriotically gather together and unite to celebrate our shared heritage and take pride in our great country.”

For a while early last year, it looked like the annual Port Credit Canada Day celebration wasn’t going to happen in 2025, which left Dasko, who represents the area on council, and many others in the community disheartened.

Money difficulties and other logistical issues threatened to cancel the event before new financial backing saved the day — and the Canada Day party.


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