YORKTON - The City of Yorkton will be proceeding with Phase 3 of a process to refresh the Yorkton’s Community Cultural Plan.
In February 2020 a report was presented to Council and asked for your support to start updating our 2009 Municipal Cultural Plan, explained Lisa Washington, Manager of Community, Culture & Heritage, with the City at the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday.
For the initial work the City “successfully applied to SaskCulture for a $5,000 Community Cultural Engagement and Planning Grant which was used to hire Prairie Wild Consulting for the first phase of this process, the Research phase,” she said.
In February 2021, an additional grant of $5,000 was obtained towards Phase 2 of the project.
“So far, refreshing our Community Cultural Plan has been funded entirely through SaskCulture grants,” noted Washington.
“The update of our Community Cultural Plan continues to move forward. Although there have been delays with the in-person engagement sessions due to COVID-19 restrictions, we will be proceeding with those in the form of intercept/street surveys, focus groups and larger community sessions, over the spring and summer, with rounds of internal engagement with City volunteers, elected officials and personnel throughout the year,” said Washington.
Following the Community Engagement phase, the City will move forward with Phase 3 – developing a new Community Culture Report.
At Monday’s meeting City Administration requested a Council resolution of support, to continue with the third phase – Development of a Culture Plan – with an application to the SaskCulture Community Cultural Engagement and Planning Grant.
The grant requires financial commitment from Council in order to continue the process as it provides 50 per cent of eligible expenses, up to a $20,000 grant, explained Washington. The City’s portion has been included in the 2022 budget.
Council was unanimous in supporting the grant application and provision of the City’s share for Phase 3 of the project.
