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Over the Bridge Launches Peer Support Mental Health Program for Canadian Music Community
Over the Bridge ( OTB ) has announced the launch of Supporting Act , a peer support program to foster greater mental health and wellness for members of the music community . OTB is a Canadian non-profit that assists music industry members , who are at their most vulnerable , cultivate and achieve long-term mental health and addiction recovery goals .
“ Supporting Act takes a person-first approach to peer support . This person-first approach puts the person before their struggles , describing what the person ‘ has ’ rather than asserting what the person ‘ is ,’” says Ace Piva , co-founder and executive director of Over the Bridge . “ Supporting Act groups are run by trained peer support facilitators from the music community , for the music community .” The Supporting Act program offers artists , musicians , and staff of all types in the music community a way to receive the support they need to foster recovery and better mental health . It offers several ways for people to get the support they need , including twice-a-week virtual peer support sessions , a private Facebook group for members to interact with , and digital resources through OverTheBridge . org . It also offers in-person meetups when possible .
People who are curious about Supporting Act can join the free virtual sessions , which happen every Tuesday and Friday at 2 p . m . ET over Zoom .
For more information , contact Over the Bridge : info @ overthebridge . org , www . overthebridge . org .
PHOTO : STEVEN GUILBEAULT / FACEBOOK
HON . STEVEN GUILBEAULT
Feds Outline $ 70M in Investments to Support Canadian Artists & Live Music Sector
Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault has announced the rollout of $ 50 million in new COVID-19-related funding to support the live music sector . An additional $ 20 million will also be delivered in renewed annual funding in 2022 – 23 and 2023 – 24 to current Canada Music Fund ( CMF ) recipients .
This $ 70 million is part of the $ 1.9 billion that was allotted in the 2021 federal budget to support the arts , culture , heritage , and sport sectors . This funding is meant to assist recovery and growth and create jobs in these sectors .
The announcement in August provided more details on the multi-million-dollar Emergency Support Fund for Canada ’ s Live Music Sector package . The Government of Canada will deliver $ 50 million to support the live music sector and to maintain the stability of Canada ’ s funding system for commercial music in 2021 – 22 through the CMF , bridging the period between the current pandemic restrictions and a sustainable recovery .
Allocation of the newly-announced funds will be handled by FACTOR in the Anglophone market and Musicaction for the Francophone market . FACTOR has announced that the initial $ 50 million will be allocated in three streams : Stream one includes $ 25 million for emergency funds for Canada ’ s live music sector ; stream two includes $ 20 million in support for live concerts to help the sector prepare for the resumption of in-person shows ; and stream three includes $ 5 million in support for Canadian artists to ensure that the level of funding to artists is maintained despite declining contributions to Canadian Content Development ( CCD ) from commercial radio broadcasters .
For more information , go to www . factor . ca .
Ontario Government Announces $ 49 Million Investment in Festival & Event Industry
The Ontario government is investing $ 49 million to help festival and event organizers deliver innovative and safe experiences that allow people to safely reconnect with their communities . This onetime funding increase – more than double the annual funding provided to the festival and event sector in the past – is meant to ensure the long-term success of the festival and event sector .
The government is providing $ 43 million to support 439 festivals and events through the Reconnect Festival and Event Program , representing a record number of supported events in the program ’ s 14-year history .
The Reconnect program ( previously known as Celebrate Ontario ) was developed to help festival and event organizers adapt to new public health measures with virtual , drive-through , and other safe offerings . This support is directed to community-based events with safe , innovative experiences that create opportunities for Ontarians to reconnect with their community in new ways .
The provincial government is also providing $ 6 million to Celebrate Ontario Blockbuster events . This helps municipalities and organizations in Ontario host large-scale , high-impact signature events that draw significant tourist attendance and increase tourist spending , increase Ontario ’ s profile through media and broadcast exposure , and provide significant economic impact and legacy development for the province .
According to the government , prior to the COVID-19 pandemic , every one dollar of provincial funding invested through Celebrate Ontario ( the model for the Reconnect program ) resulted in almost $ 21 of visitor spending . The impact of the 2021 / 22 Celebrate Ontario Blockbuster and Reconnect Festival and Event Program investment is estimated to generate over $ 1 billion in economic benefit across the province .
16 CANADIAN MUSICIAN