Leamington, Ontario, June 25th 2009- Today Dave Van Kesteren Member of Parliament for Chatham-Kent-Essex announced the Leamington Tomato Festival will be receiving $27,400.00 in Federal funding towards the operational costs of the popular summer festival.

“Our Government is proud to support this great annual event,” said MP Van Kesteren “The high point of the summer in Leamington is always the Tomato Festival, I love coming to it every year and seeing everyone enjoying themselves.  It really speaks to what this community is all about.”

“The Tomato Festival appreciates the tremendous opportunity afforded the Festival through the ‘Building Communities Through the Arts and Heritage” Program," says David Campbell, Festival Chair.  He added “The Festival and community enthusiastically welcome the chance to display local artists and performers while celebrating the agricultural history, the many cultural heritages and continually growing the Festival.”   

The Government of Canada created the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program in September 2007. This program provides Canadians with more opportunities to take part in local activities that present arts and culture and celebrate local history and heritage. The program will benefit many community events and celebrations throughout Canada this year.   

The Leamington Tomato Festival runs from Wednesday August 12th until Sunday August 16th and includes a parade, pageant, a center stage with continual live entertainment along with many other annual activities associated with the Tomato Festival.  For more information on the Festival please visit www.leamingtontomatofestival.com or call 519-326-2878.