HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 19, 2021
Minutes/Meeting Summary
Cultural Advisory Committee
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
7:00 pm
Electronic Meeting – Webex Platform
Attendees: J. St. Amant, Coordinator, Cultural Services (Chair)
T. Ryce, Supervisor, Cultural Services
K. Williams, Director Public Services, Pickering Public Library
L. Gibbs, Supervisor, Museum Services
C. Cooper, Cultural Advisory Committee Member
J. Currie, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder
D. Davis, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder
P. DeWilde, 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
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: V. Raees, Cultural Advisory Committee Stakeholder
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1. Welcome and Disclosure of Interest
J. St. Amant w elcomed everyone in attendance and
called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm.
J. St. Amant rev iewed City Policy ADM 040, Section
14. No disclosure of interest was brought forward by
any of the committee members.
2. Approval of Agenda and Review of Minutes
T. Ryce requested to include discussion around the
development of the Kingston Road Corridor as item
5 of the agenda. The committee reviewed the
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revised agenda and the minutes from the meeting
held on Tuesday, November 17th , 2020. It was the
consensus of the committee to approve the revised
agenda and adopt the minutes as received.
3. Pickering Museum Village Update
L. Gibbs provided the following updates:
The 2020 annual report is being finalized and should be available for distribution at the next
meeting. The museum is getting visitor demographics
from postal code data. Information obtained through surveys show that there were as many
as 40% new visitors to the museum last year. The museum had just over 6,500 visitors on
site for paid programs in 2020; compared to
the average attendance of 10,000- 12,000 in
previous years.
Staff are working on the 1920’s drive-thru and
prohibition escape room in partnership with
Central Counties Tourism’s War on Whisky
tours, Canadian Automotive Museum and
Parkwood estate. There will be a webpage
hosted on Central Counties Tourism’s website.
The Anne experience is starting in June and
will include mini exhibits, lunch with a behind
the scenes video, an audio tour with Anne, a
scone workshop, as well as a historical
podcast.
The permanent family-friendly hands on exhibit
in the combination barn will launch this spring.
The combination barn repairs were completed
in December, which included the foundation,
structural repairs, new cladding, and the roof.
This year, the museum will be will be offering
guided themed tours of the village. These
tours, which will start in April include the Anne
tour, Glad Rags and Giggle Juice tour
(1920’s), and Pickering’s past tour.
Staff will be continuing on the virtual museum
with videos, virtual exhibits, paid virtual
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education programs and paid virtual speaker
sessions.
4. Sub-Committee Updates
ABRT Preparatory Sub-committee
T. Ryce advised that the Anti-Black Racism
Taskforce Preparatory Sub-committee has made
recommendations for appointees to the Anti-Black
Racism Taskforce, which have been forwarded to
Council for consideration for appointment. There
were 42 applicants for the taskforce, 34 individuals
took part in the interview process and 20 individuals
have been recommended for the Anti-Black Racism
Taskforce. The report will be going to Council on
January 25th .
C. Cooper indicated that work is ongoing with the
round table discussions. The first round table
discussion occurred on Wednesday, January 13 th
with a group of seniors. The next round table
discussion will take place with Boi-1da who has
volunteered to help host it and promote it. The date
has yet to be confirmed but the intent is to hold it
this month.
M. Francis advised that the survey had over 1,500
responses. The interviews have concluded for the
Anti-Black Racism Taskforce resulting in 20
recommended members. The individuals that
weren’t selected to the taskforce will be encouraged
to be engaged with the Sub-committees to bring
their talents to the table.
C. Cooper provided an overview of the survey,
noting that part of the outreach was the distribution
of a post card by mail to all Pickering residents. A
large majority of the respondents indicated that was
one of the ways they heard about the survey.
J. Currie requested that the distribution of postcards T. Ryce to review the
be used for the Indigenous Relationship Building budget.
Sub-committee.
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Indigenous Relationship Building Sub-
committee
J. Currie advised that the Sub-committee is at the
soliciting and recruitment stage. There have been
some challenges with COVID as the Indigenous
community is pretty much on lockdown in a lot of
ways and they are not accustomed to City’s or
governments reaching out to them in the manner
that we’re reaching out to them so there is a lot of
explaining and understanding of what we’re trying to
do. The Sub-committee is reaching out to the large
organizations that exist but like the idea of reaching
out to residents. A background survey has been
conducted resu lting the knowledge that there are a
substantial number of Indigenous people that live in
our community.
T. Ryce advised that the plan has been approved by
Council and a number of staff are on board to
implement the plan. The Sub-committee has been Committee members to
renamed the Indigenous Relationship Building provide contact
Circle. A draft list of stakeholders and residents that information for individuals
will be invited to the Indigenous Relationship or organizations that may
Building Circle has been developed. There will be a be interested in joining the
broader call that is in line with the Anti-Black Indigenous Relationship
Racism Taskforce. B. Sopher has connected with Building Circle.
the school boards that are interested in
participating.
Public Art Sub-committee
J. St. Amant advised that the Sub-committee m et
recently and developed a meeting schedule and
basic work plan, which was reviewed, for 2021. The
committee isn’t fully filled out yet therefore J.
Sabean and T. Ryce will be reaching out to some
professional artists as part of the recruit strategy.
T. Ryce advised that there is a Terms of Reference
and there will be an open call to the Sub-committee.
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5. Development of the Kingston Road Corridor
As a follow up to the presentation that was
conducted by City Development staff at the
November 17th , 2020 meeting, T. Ryce advised that
they are looking for comments on the plan for
development of the Kingston Road corridor. As a
group we committed to providing comments to that
team. The type of proposed document was
reviewed, which compiles comments into easy to
reference thoughts. The Piazza design was used as
an example. Planning staff are looking at the
Cultural Advisory Committee to look at Arts, Culture,
Diversity and Integration through research and
documentation. T. Ryce indicated that she is looking
for committee members to form the comments and T. Ryce to set up the initial
attend the meetings. A. Moscote Freire, C Sabean meeting.
and B. Sopher expressed their interest in assisting
with this work. T. Ryce noted that a ll committee
members are welcome to provide their comments.
6. Other Business
T. Ryce advised that the Cultural Services team just
conducted 4 virtual events along with the Santa
Claus parade. Staff are working with community
partners on drive-by and drive-thru events for
existing events. In the summer staff are looking at
smaller in person events depending on the
restrictions as well as slightly larger events in the
winter. Drive-by and drive-thru events will remain an
option to maintain flexibility in the event that the
restrictions are still in place.
Staff are working on promoting the summer concert
series through diverse publications that are specific
to different cultures to try and broaden the diversity
of the applications that are being received. Included
in the plan is to supplement the summer concert
series through a grant, which will help expand the
offerings, which may not have been affordable in
the past.
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The community art displays are well underway. The
piano project is launching this spring, the piece with
Daniel Davis is proceeding, the painting has been
installed on the exterior east wall of West Shore
Community Centre and the last piece will be worked
on with Dorsey James.
The Request for Proposal for the diversity strategy,
which was part of the 3 part plan that went to
Council along with the recommendations to form the
taskforce, has closed and the review by staff has
concluded. Staff are close to awarding the job to a
consultant to work on the diversity strategy.
T. Ryce provided an update on the mid-term
Cultural Plan.
B. Sopher requested that a Share File folder be set D. Poole to set up a Share
up for the Indigenous Relationship Circle Sub-File folder.
committee.
E. Forde inv ited the committee members to attend T. Ryce to distribute the
the virtual Black History month celebrations. Tanya promotional flyer to the
to provide the flyer to the committee via email. committee members.
P. DeWilde provided an update pertaining to the
virtual events and programs that are occurring at
the Pickering Welcome Centre.
No other business was conducted resulting in the
adjournment of the meeting at 8:05 pm.
Meeting Adjourned: 8:05 pm
Copy: (Acting) Director, Community Services
City Clerk
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