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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 18, 2021 Minutes/Meeting Summary Cultural Advisory Committee Tuesday, May 18, 2021 7:00 pm Electronic Meeting – Webex Platform Attendees: J. St. Amant, Coordinator, Cultural Services T. Ryce, Supervisor, Cultural Services J. Currie, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder D. Davis, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder E. Forde, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder M. Francis, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder N. Holland, Cultural Advisory Committee Member A. Moscote Freire, Cultural Advisory Committee Member V. Raees, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder C. Sabean, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder J. Sabean, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder A. Sardar, Cultural Advisory Committee Member B. Sopher, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder D. Poole, Clerk-Typist (Recording Secretary) Absent: C. Cooper, Cultural Advisory Committee Member Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) 1. Welcome J. St. Amant welcomed everyone in attendance and called the meeting to order at 7:10 pm. 2. Disclosure of Interest J. St. Amant reviewed City Policy ADM 040, Section 14. No disclosure of interest was brought forward by any of the committee members. 3. Approval of Agenda and Previous of Minutes J. St. Amant advised that item 6 of the agenda, Pickering Museum Village Update, is being removed, as there are no updates to report at this time. Page 1 of 6 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) The committee reviewed the revised agenda and the minutes from the meeting held on Tuesday, April 20th , 2021. It was the consensus of the committee to approve the revised agenda and adopt the minutes as received. 4. Delegations There were no delegates registered for the meeting. 5. Work Plan Review and Recommended Actions T. Ryce reviewed the 2021 work plan for comment. There were no recommended changes from any of the committee members. T. Ryce reviewed the Cultural Strategic Plan, particularly the section pertaining to the strategic actions with medium term goals, and opened the floor for comments/recommendations relating to each action. Action – Development of a City Tourism Program. Comments/Recommendations:  Renew investment of promotion of the Cultural map to local businesses and tourism attractions to ensure that it’s being updated.  Look at agra tourism within north Pickering where there are lots of land opportunities and finding creative ways to answer the challenges of food security.  Add an Indigenous element through land stewardship and land based education.  Consider hydroponic food growth and other innovative food growth opportunities.  Look to Indigenous people for knowledge about the land and solutions to reduce the amount of food that is imported.  Finding food growth opportunities can support tourism strategies, develop economic benefits, create a theme for community T. Ryce to bring forward these comments to the Sustainability Department and staff overseeing the Parks Master Plan. Page 2 of 6 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) culture by bringing the community together while parlaying into culinary food and fusion.  Growing food from your own hands from your native place creates an emotional attachment to the land with a sense of belonging. Action -Identify a strategy to address transportation issues at venues that host major events. Consider transportation in the selection and design of new venues. Comments/Recommendations:  Explore partnership opportunities with companies such as Uber at particular events to increase accessibility for those without other means of transportation.  Northern hamlets such as Whitevale don’t have public transportation therefore people without a vehicle may lack the means to travel to these areas. Staff to potentially look at recommendations in the next round of the Transportation Master Plan.  Identify a strategy to address transportation issues at venues that host major events. Consider transportation in the selection design of new venues. Action -Address a need for more venues to support cultural activities (e.g., for exhibitions and performances). T. Ryce provided and overview of the new facilities and outdoor spaces that are under review that could host activities, exhibitions and performances. J. St. Amant provided an overview of the Place4Arts program. Discussion ensued regarding the program and some of the challenges that are associated with it. T. Ryce recommended taking an inventory that can be built into this project to help develop some economic impact in the city. Consideration should be given to applying for a grant that will help expand Staff to provide a link to the Transportation Master Plan. Page 3 of 6 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) and build the Cultural portal/map and get us prepared for a tourism program. Action -Engage cultural groups in the development of strategies that encourage resident cultural engagement between north and south Pickering. T. Ryce proposed that this be handled through the new community engagement tool called Bang the Table. Action -Expand the Central Library to include community and cultural meeting spaces. T. Ryce advised that the new central library and Youth & Seniors Centre will have space that is dedicated to some programs within this area. Action -Examine the opportunity to leverage cultural festivals to define a strong cultural brand for Pickering and increase its reputation as a significant cultural destination. T. Ryce advised that staff have been discussing the need for an event strategy. This will be reviewed in the work plan this year. Comments/Recommendations:  The strategy should demonstrate how we appreciate the original stewards of the land.  Part of the strategy should demonstrate green, cultural and sustainable event guidelines.  Tie the event strategy with the event strategy to reach an audience outside of Pickering.  Partner with cultural group associations to broadcast cultural event details to their locations abroad in an effort to invite people into our community.  There’s an opportunity to transform events to include an online component to attract people globally and those who may not be able to attend in person. This will also add T. Ryce to request that library staff attend a future meeting to discuss their strategic plan. T. Ryce to come back with an outline of the event strategy next year. Page 4 of 6 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) value for sponsorship opportunities. Ex. Summer Concert Series. Action -Integrate cultural and economic planning related to growing the creative economy and increasing the number of creative cultural industries in Pickering. Comments/Recommendations:  Consider pop up spaces for businesses that aren’t looking for long term spaces, which includes weekly advertising opportunities, and can be attended through drive by or walk through channels. Action -Develop strategies to highlight and celebrate Pickering’s heritage properties that include additional or improved signage to identify arts, cultural, and heritage designations and public properties. Comments/Recommendations:  The Pickering Historical Society and library have an extensive database of historical pictures.  There are heritage buildings all over Pickering however some buildings have never been declared a heritage site; notably the birth place of Tom Thompson. J. Sabean brought forward a concern regarding the proposal to move Post Manor, noting that it shouldn’t be moved, as it’s been declared a heritage property and a landmark within Pickering. Discussion ensued regarding the development of a physical cultural map, which would include historical properties and locations that exist/existed within Pickering. T. Ryce advised the cultural map will be developed through a two phased approach and will be placed on the open data portal. The information received will be community led, which will be monitored for T. Ryce to meet with staff teams to see who will take on what piece of work through the action plan. Page 5 of 6 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) appropriateness but not verified. The potential exists to hire someone to verify that the information is factual in nature. Action -Work closely with the school system to increase understanding of and appreciation for the importance of local culture and heritage among youth. Comments/Recommendations:  Has to be more engaging then simply presentations.  Has to be more interactive so it’s engaging.  Add in a competition to the educational component such as a TikTok challenge that relates to the history of Pickering.  Build on the success of past projects with the school system such as Creative Expressions.  Partner with the board of education, present online, help with the educational materials, develop modules and develop curriculum resources. 6. Other Business T. Ryce advised that she will be submitting the delegation requests for each of the sub-committee delegates that will be appearing at the Council meeting on Tuesday, May 25th . T. Ryce noted that the Clerks Department is reviewing the request to have all members of the CAC act as voting members. No other business was conducted resulting in the adjournment of the meeting at 8:32 pm. T. Ryce to provide a copy of what will be submitted to Council in advance of the delegations. Meeting Adjourned: 8:32 pm Copy: (Acting) Director, Community Services City Clerk Page 6 of 6