We are a grass roots group that believes in the potential and opportunity for arts and culture to grow and impact economic development in our municipality.  This group has come together to form Culture Core.  We have observed other Ontario municipalities that believe cultural planning and The Creative Rural Economy are a new resource for economic development.

The Government of Ontario is encouraging municipalities to integrate cultural planning into their daily business:

  • Public Planning
  • Tourism
  • Youth Engagement
  • Economic Development
  • Downtown Revitalization

This approach emphasizes local arts, cultural industries, heritage and libraries as they plan the future of their communities.  Culture is increasingly being recognized as essential to prosperous, livable, and sustainable communities in the 21st century.  The Province of Ontario recognizes the tremendous fiscal opportunity for rural municipalities to leverage their cultural assets for prosperity. This could give our municipality an authentic sense of place and a strategic direction that can form the foundation of an innovative economic development policy.

Culture Core was established to represent the broadest range of cultural interests and to encourage the municipality to use “cultural planning” and to take advantage of the opportunities available to the municipality.  These opportunities are offered by the Municipal Cultural Planning Partnership, TORC (The Ontario Rural Council), and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture & Food, Rural Job Strategies Programme.

We would like to see Council build local capacity through collaboration among cultural groups.  We can offer our support to identify existing cultural assets and resources.  In addition, we are able to provide a communication network.

The economic landscape in Rural Ontario is changing.  We need new ways of thinking to respond to these changes. It is about creating jobs and building a municipality that is livable and environmentally sustainable.  It is about regenerating our downtown and building healthy rural community.

Mission Statement:

  • We are an independent voice of culture in both urban and rural Meaford;

  • We represent the broadest range of culture interests;

  • We will help formulate a sense of place and quality of life within that place by identifying our cultural resources;

  • We will provide a network of communications to focus the efforts of the cultural energies in the community;

  • We will strive to mobilize energy and resources to raise the profile of culture and cultural opportunities in the community; and

  • By “culture” we mean the characteristics of life in the community, including its heritage, built and natural forms, educational and artistic activities.

Culture Core:

David Baker

Meri-Diane Carroll

Joanne Craig

Donna Gorrie

John Kerr

Gita Marie Kikauka

Janet Kurasz

Gordon Monahan

Kerry Riley

Deborah Thompson

Stephen Vance