Nobody has ever denied the community here is lacking in culture, but people are still looking for ways to use it to attract people and businesses.
Cultural planning coordinator Elizabeth Bender is hoping people will offer ideas the next few months. She is part of a search for a vision in creating a cultural strategic plan.
The search is fueled by a Community Prosperity fund grant. Recently, the township held a workshop with cultural groups to begin the work, asking the question “What is cultural planning,” Bender said in an interview. That event launched the beginning of the work.
She said, “There was lots of energy and enthusiasm for cultural planning a good thing to direct our community’s future. If we want to shift gears, cultural planning helps get your there.”
Bender said the definition of culture is a broad one, encompassing agriculture, built heritage, natural heritage, arts, recreation and Sports.
“We’ve got so much heritage in this community,” she said.
Bender said culture can be used to bring more people into the community, and that can be good for business. She noted there is even a culture club started at Centre Wellington District High School.
The study will be divided into three phases. The first looks at what is already here, preparing a cultural map of the area that can be placed on the township website for outsiders to see.
The second is planning and direction, and that could include being part of the township’s official plan when it is brought up to date in the coming years.
The third phase is figuring out “how to get there.” She said the grant is helping to pay for Novita Interpares consultants to help with that.
Bender agreed there have been studies done in the past that have then gathered dust.
“That’s one of my challenges – how to make sure it’s a living breathing document that doesn’t sit on the shelf.”
Bender said she has read hundreds of pages of studies and does not see the issue as being that complicated. She hopes for a report that is “succinct and makes sense to everybody.”
She admits “There are a lot of people who are excited and some who are skeptical.”
Bender said that is why it is important that people in the community have a say.
We want to heave from everyone about this cultural plan – what’s great about Centre Wellington.
Dates for meetings will be announced soon. For more information, contact her at ebender@centrewellington.ca or phone 519-846-0971.
