The City of Yorkton will look to update its cultural plan with the help of a grant from the province.
鈥淢unicipal cultural planning includes a process of inclusive community consultation and decision-making that helps local government identify cultural resources and think strategically about how these resources can help a community to achieve its civic goals. Cultural planning is a way of looking at all aspects of a community鈥檚 cultural life,鈥� Lisa Washington, Community Development Manager with the City told the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday.
In 2009, the City of Yorkton was the first Saskatchewan municipality to develop a Municipal Cultural Plan, which was done as a pilot project with SaskCulture.
鈥淭he following year, Yorkton City Council adopted the Municipal Cultural Plan and directed administration to examine the findings and bring forward recommendations for an implementation strategy,鈥� said Washington.
Through a Municipal Cultural Engagement and Planning Grant obtained from SaskCulture, Common Ground Consulting worked with the community in 2012 and developed an Implementation Strategy for the Municipal Cultural Plan.
In February 2013, Council approved the Implementation Strategy 鈥� Moving Yorkton鈥檚 Municipal Cultural Plan Forward.
鈥淭hese initiatives were aligned with the City鈥檚 strategic priorities of: creating a community with a comprehensive, integrated and sustainable infrastructure plan and programs that meet current and future needs; and fostering a safe community that embraces cultural and social diversity by providing social, recreational and education opportunities for all community members,鈥� said Washington.
鈥淣ow, ten years after the process began, we need to revisit and refresh our Municipal Cultural Plan.鈥�
Washington said they hope to access a grant to start the work.
SaskCulture has a $5,000 grant available for the first part of this process through their Community Cultural Engagement and Planning Grant, she explained.
鈥淥ur community has changed over the past ten years and we would like to hire a Consultant to conduct some local research, which may include: information gathering, identification of cultural and community assets, mapping assets, assessment, analysis of data, and publishing of these findings,鈥� said Washington.
Council was unanimous in supporting the application for the grant.
