Federal visibility guidelines for funding recipients and partners of FedDev Ontario
Table of contents
- Visibility and funding acknowledgement guidelines
- General requirements
- How to acknowledge FedDev Ontario funding
- How to apply acknowledgement materials to communications products
- Access acknowledgement materials
- Visual specifications
- How to request approval to use acknowledgement materials
- Contact FedDev Ontario
Visibility and funding acknowledgement guidelines
In line with the Policy on Communications and Federal Identity, these guidelines provide direction for the use of FedDev Ontario’s identifier and the Canada wordmark and outline expectations for acknowledgement of projects and activities funded by the Agency.
General requirements
When recipients share information publicly about a FedDev Ontario-funded project, they must acknowledge the Government of Canada’s support through FedDev Ontario. Government of Canada funding must be acknowledged in all communications products related to the funded project for the period covered by the Contribution Agreement.
This acknowledgement must appear on all printed or electronic documents, marketing materials, public reports, publications and media products related to the funded project. Verbal acknowledgement of FedDev Ontario’s support should occur during speaking opportunities at public events related to the funded project.
While bilingual acknowledgement of FedDev Ontario’s support is preferred, if space is limited, it is acceptable to use an acknowledgement in the first official language of the community where the project is located.
Recipients may be asked to exclude or remove FedDev Ontario funding acknowledgements from their communications products at FedDev Ontario’s discretion.
How to acknowledge FedDev Ontario funding
When FedDev Ontario is the only provider of Government of Canada funding and/or support:
- Feature FedDev Ontario’s funding acknowledgement graphic according to the specific requirements for the type of communications product being developed.
- Whenever possible, include an acknowledgement text option and a link to FedDev Ontario’s website in the supporting text or description for the communications product.
- Where space is limited or legibility is an issue, the Canada wordmark can be used instead of FedDev Ontario’s acknowledgement graphic, but an acknowledgement text option must be included in the supporting text or description.
When there are multiple providers of Government of Canada funding or support:
- Feature the Canada wordmark according to the specific requirements for the type of communications product being developed.
- Include an acknowledgement of Government of Canada funding or support in the supporting text or description for the communications product and a link to Canada.ca.
When there are multi-level funding partners, including private sector organizations
- Feature the Canada wordmark according to the specific requirements for the type of communications product being developed.
- Include an acknowledgement text option and a link to FedDev Ontario’s website in the supporting text or description for the communications product.
How to apply acknowledgement materials to communications products
Websites, digital graphics or other electronic applications
- Feature FedDev Ontario’s acknowledgement graphic when FedDev Ontario is the only provider of Government of Canada funding and space permits. The acknowledgement graphic must be hyperlinked to FedDev Ontario’s website and applied in accordance with visual specifications.
- Feature the Canada wordmark when acknowledging multiple federal funding partners, multi-level funding partners or where space is limited. The wordmark must be hyperlinked to Canada.ca and applied in accordance with visual specifications.
- Email FedDev Ontario’s Visibility Inbox with questions or to request approval.
Social media
- Tag FedDev Ontario’s social media accounts when posting about FedDev Ontario-supported projects or programs.
- Follow visibility requirements for digital graphics or videos when posting these types of products on social media.
- Include funding acknowledgement text and a link to FedDev Ontario’s website in the post description, if possible.
- Email FedDev Ontario’s Visibility Inbox with questions or to request approval.
Recipients are asked to follow FedDev Ontario’s social media accounts:
- Twitter: @FedDevOntario (EN); @FedDev_Ontario (FR)
- Instagram: @FedDevOntario (EN); @FedDev_Ontario (FR)
- Linkedin: Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
- Facebook: @FedDevOntario
Videos
- Feature FedDev Ontario’s acknowledgement graphic at the end of the video for three seconds. When acknowledging multiple federal funders or multi-level funding partners, or where space is limited, the Canada wordmark can be used instead.
- Apply graphics in accordance with visual specifications.
- Include the acknowledgement text in the video’s description with a link to FedDev Ontario’s website.
- Tag FedDev Ontario’s social media accounts when posting videos to social media platforms.
Print publications (magazines, newsletters, brochures, etc.)
- Feature FedDev Ontario’s acknowledgement graphic on the cover of a magazine or other print publication, or on an acknowledgement page at the front of the publication.
- Feature the Canada wordmark when acknowledging multiple federal funding partners, multi-level funding partners or where space is limited.
- Apply acknowledgement materials in accordance with visual specifications.
- Email FedDev Ontario’s Visibility Inbox with questions or to request approval to feature Agency acknowledgement materials in your communications product.
Physical project signage
- Physical project signage is not a mandatory requirement for projects receiving FedDev Ontario funding.
- Feature FedDev Ontario’s acknowledgement graphic when a physical project sign is produced.
- Feature the Canada wordmark when acknowledging multiple federal funding partners, multi-level funding partners or where space is limited.
- Apply acknowledgement materials in accordance with visual specifications.
- Email FedDev Ontario’s Visibility Inbox with questions or to request approval.
News releases
- News releases related to a funded project, including projects funded through third parties and partner organizations, must include acknowledgement of financial support for the project from FedDev Ontario.
- News releases can include the acknowledgement graphic, if the design permits.
- Send news releases about FedDev Ontario-funded projects, including third-party and partner projects, that are intended for public display or for sharing with media to the FedDev Ontario Communications Advisor and Program Officer assigned to the project and copy FedDev Ontario’s Visibility Inbox for review and approval.
- If other funding partners are permitted to include a message or quote(s) related to the project, the Government of Canada must have an opportunity to include its own message of similar size, quantity, duration and prominence. FedDev Ontario will prepare these messages and provide the final edit, including quotes from a federal representative upon request.
Events
- Support from FedDev Ontario must be acknowledged during public events related to the funded project. These events include, but are not limited to project announcements and milestone celebrations.
- The Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario, or an appointed delegate, must be given the opportunity to participate in these types of public events. A minimum of 15 days’ notice must be given to the FedDev Ontario Communications Branch to inform the Minister’s office prior to the event.
- When planning an event, recipients should contact FedDev Ontario using the Communications Inbox and copy the Communications Advisor and Programs Officer assigned to the project.
- When a Minister or an appointed delegate participates in a virtual event, FedDev Ontario’s Communications Branch may provide support and appropriate acknowledgement options.
- When a Minister or an appointed delegate participates in an in-person event, FedDev Ontario’s Communications Branch may provide on-site support and appropriate backdrop signage.
Verbal acknowledgements
- Include a verbal acknowledgement of FedDev Ontario’s support during any speaking opportunity at public events related to the funded project. Below is an example of a verbal acknowledgement.
“I would like to acknowledge the Government of Canada's support through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) for (name of activity or event). I would also like to welcome (name of representative) to our event today.”
Access acknowledgement materials
Funding acknowledgement graphic options
Horizontal orientation:

Vertical orientation:

Download funding acknowledgement graphics
Orientation | Colour | Black | White | ||||
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English | French | English | French | English | French | ||
Bilingual | Horizontal | ||||||
Vertical | |||||||
Monolingual | Horizontal | ||||||
Vertical |
Funding acknowledgement text options
The following funding acknowledgement text options can be used in combination with graphic acknowledgements:
Option 1:
"This project is funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario."
Option 2:
"This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario."
Option 3:
"We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario."
Canada wordmark

Download Canada wordmark graphics
Example application:


Other Funding Partner
Visual specifications
Acceptable colour variations
- Official full-colour (red and black).
- Black text on white background.
- White text on dark/black background.
Official colour palette
Red: #ed2e39 | Black: #00000 | White: #FFFFFF |
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Visual criteria
- The acknowledgement graphic or Canada wordmark must be displayed in generous open space, free from close association with interfering or distracting elements.
- The acknowledgement graphic or Canada wordmark cannot be used in a headline, phrase or sentence.
- Full-colour versions should be used when a colour printing process or colour advertising product is selected.
- The acknowledgment text must be legible when the product is viewed at 100 percent full size (applies to both print and digital).
Things to avoid
- Adjusting or repositioning any aspect of the acknowledgement graphic or Canada wordmark.
- Text and font type replacements.
- Skewing, distorting or rotating the acknowledgement graphic or Canada wordmark (always scale proportionally).
- Changing or adding any colour outside of official colour palette.
- Placing acknowledgement graphic, text or Canada wordmark over busy images or coloured backgrounds with inaccessible contrast ratio.
How to request approval to use acknowledgement materials
- All funding acknowledgements and uses of federal identifiers must be approved by FedDev Ontario’s Communications Branch.
- Email FedDev Ontario’s Visibility Inbox to request approval, and copy the FedDev Ontario Communications Advisor and Program Officer responsible for your project.
- Include all products submitted for approval as links or attachments with a brief explanation, if required.
- Please allow ten (10) business days for the Communications Branch to approve your communications products.
Contact FedDev Ontario
For additional information on the Government of Canada’s Federal Identity Program and/or the use of Agency acknowledgement materials, email FedDev Ontario’s Visibility Inbox. Please make sure to copy your Communications Advisor and Program Officer on all email requests.