Tri Area News

Stony Plain cultural plan

The Town of Stony Plain invites all members of the community to provide input into the development of the Town’s first Cultural Master Plan, by participating in a Community Forum on Nov. 23. “Our residents will have the opportunity to provide first-hand input into the future of the arts, culture and heritage of this community,” says Ken Lemke, mayor of Stony Plain. “While the Town values the integral role that the arts, culture and heritage play in municipal planning to create a sustainable community and to help define our unique community spirit, it is citizens’ input that is required for this plan to be successfully developed and implemented. I encourage all residents to share their opinions and views about arts and culture in Stony Plain.”

An important step in establishing a cultural vision for the Town, the Cultural Master Plan will assist the Town in identifying municipal and community priorities for strengthening the arts, culture and heritage sector, thereby enhancing quality of place and the attraction residents, businesses and visitors.

The nearly year-long project, which is scheduled to be unveiled in Spring 2012, will provide a long-term framework and vision for the continued preservation, protection and enhancement of the Town’s cultural sector, will identify key opportunities and specific strategies the Town can implement over the next several years and will help shape the future cultural development of the community.

The purpose of the community forum is to engage a broad base of community members in discussion around the priorities for cultural development in Stony Plain.

Background

In May 2010, Council approved $60,000 to develop a Cultural Master Plan. The Town retained the services of Millier Dickinson Blais, Inc., Canada’s largest municipal strategic planning and economic development specialist consulting firm, to manage the project. The Toronto-based company has completed cultural plans for municipalities and regions of all sizes and circumstances across Canada. Municipal cultural planning is an integrated approach to local and regional cultural development that puts culture at the centre of planning and economic development agendas. “With the growth that will come to Stony Plain in the coming years, now is the time to integrate culture into the Town’s planning and economic development activities” said Lauren Millier, principal of Millier Dickinson Blais, at the launch of the project in August.

The community forum takes place at the Stony Plain Public Golf Course (18 Fairway Dr.) from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Wed., Nov. 23. As space is limited, citizens interested in participating are encouraged to register in advance, online via the Town’s website (www.stonyplain.com). For more information, visit www.stonyplain.com.

[Source: Town of Stony Plain]