More and more municipalities over the past several years have developed municipal cultural plans.
Larger Urban Centers
City of Hamilton – Our Community Culture Project Phase 1 Report: Realizing Hamilton’s Potential as a Creative City was received by City Council June 18, 2010. The report includes: baseline cultural mapping; an analysis of the planning context; draft principles and strategic themes to guide the next phase of the process and the development of a Cultural Policy and Plan.
Mississauga - The plan, which supports the City’s new Strategic Plan, was approved June 10, 2009 at Council. The Mississauga Culture Plan provides a framework and a long-term vision, and identifies key opportunities and strategies that the City’s Culture Division can implement over the next five years.
Mid-Size Cities
Kingston - Kingston Culture Plan (KCP) – was approved City Council September 21, 2010. The plan will guide the cultural development of Kingston over the next decade and was the result of a yearlong process of consultations that examined ways to support cultural vitality to benefit local residents as well as visitors to the area.
Barrie – Building a Creative Future: A Cultural Plan was adopted by City Council in February 2006 resulting in the establishment of a Department of Culture and the launch of series of new programs and funding initiatives.
Oakville - On October 5, 2009, Oakville Town Council approved Culture Lives Here: Oakville’s Cultural Plan. The plan defines a guiding vision for culture for the Town of Oakville, establishes a town mandate for culture appropriate to that vision, and defines strategic directions for the future.
Vaughan - Creative Together: A Cultural Plan for Vaughan was adopted by City Council on June 15, 2010. Creative Together establishes an overall vision and actions to guide cultural development in Vaughan and integrates cultural planning across municipal departments. The plan was developed parallel to and in support of a new Vaughan Official Plan.
Regional Municipalities
Region of Niagara – Niagara Culture Plan: Economy, People, Places was adopted unanimously by Regional Council in March 2010. The plan establishes a shared vision and action-plan for culture in Niagara. It is intended to guide collective actions connecting the municipality with its community, business and culture partners.
Smaller Communities and Rural Areas
Orillia – A Cultural Plan for the City of Orillia: Culture, Community, Economy was completed and adopted by Council in 2006. Among the outcomes of the plan was the mandating of a new Department of Culture and Heritage and the establishment of a Cultural Roundtable. The plan was developed by a Steering Committee of municipal and community representatives that went on to form the foundation of the Cultural Roundtable.
Prince Edward County – A Cultural Strategic Plan for Prince Edward County was completed in 2006. The plan was developed over an 18-month period and involved cultural mapping and a community survey and engagement process. The Plan established a vision and set of strategic directions for The County and mandated the establishment of a Cultural Roundtable. The Prince Edward County Plan was awarded a top award from the Economic Developers Council of Ontario in 2006.
Northern Municipalities
Dryden – Out of a municipal cultural planning forum held in Dryden in 2006, the Dryden Area Cultural Partnership was formed and led the development of a Dryden Cultural Strategy adopted by Council in June 2009. Dryden has now completed a full municipal cultural plan that went to Council in February 2011.
