Peterborough's Municipal Cultural Plan – Why Diversity is an Essential Component

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What is Municipal Cultural Planning?

Municipal cultural planning is the “strategic and integrated planning and use of cultural resources for economic and community development”. Municipal Cultural

Planning Incorporated

It is a process through which the cultural resources of a community are leveraged to build community prosperity

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What is Municipal Cultural Planning?

It is a master plan for use by the City in directing its investment in culture and for identifying municipal priorities

Under the direction of Council the City will work to integrate culture in plans and policies across all departments and help build local capacity among cultural groups.

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Why is MCP Important?We are in a time of changing economic

theories/paradigms Moving away from physical assets or jobs based on

physical activity and large quantities of natural/raw resources – production of goods

Focus is now on creativity, knowledge, innovation, analytical skills and judgment

Work people do - not industries in which people work

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Defining the Creative Economy

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Creative Economy =Current & Future Prosperity

What is needed for economic success ?High quality of lifeAccommodation of diversitySuccessful talent attraction & retentionGrowth in technology intensive economic activities

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Attracting the Creative ClassTo create an environment to attract creative class, there must be social, economic and cultural incentives that entice individuals and companies to enter and stay in the community.

Three T ‘s are essential

Technology

Talent

Tolerance

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Technology Index Measure of the region’s innovativeness & size of

high-tech producing industries Need a large & diverse high-tech industry for the

attraction of the creative classIndicators include:

North American Tech-Pole Indextotal patents the year over year growth in patents for a five year

period

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Talent Index Measure of the number of highly

talented/educated/skilled population

Indicators include the number post-secondary graduates types of employers types of post-graduate opportunities,

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Tolerance IndexMeasure of openness and diversity. Necessary for regions to act as magnets of creative

capital Indicators include

Bohemian Index – share of regional employment for specific occupations

Gay & Lesbian Index- same sex marriagesMosaic Index - % of foreign born populationIntegration Index – neighbourhood & region racial mix

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Peterborough RankingsTechnology Index

3rd in Canada, 1st in Ontario

Talent Index

3rd in Ontario behind Guelph & Kingston

Tolerance Index

3rd in Ontario behind Kingston & Guelph

(Ontario’s Small-Sized Regions’ performance on the 3Ts of Economic Development – Martin Prosperity Institute)

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Tolerance & DiversityDiversity brings great richness and

complexity to the culture of a community. Diversity also challenges many

established arts and heritage institutions many of which were established in a time of greater homogeneity in cultures and cultural traditions.

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Tolerance & Diversity

Diversity provides great opportunity, but also challengesensuring equity and access to a diverse community i.e. recent immigrants have high levels of education

(23% with a B.A. or higher) but face higher levels of unemployment amongst recent immigrants compared to Canadian born

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Tolerance & DiversityTolerance & cultural diversity =Urban cultural strategies that reduce

homogenizationEnhanced retail offerings & productive diversityCommunity & neighbourhood pride & safer streetsIncreasingly diverse populations, experiences,

product demand & expenditures

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MCP Findings for PeterboroughHome to a relatively high number of cultural workers as a

percentage of the total workforce.Home to the oldest in Ontario (the median age is 42.8), but

it is currently the 25 to 34 year-old cohort that is growing the fastest. (Peterborough Census Metropolitan Area)

Attracting increased numbers of recent immigrants from larger urban centres such as Toronto, Durham Region, and Ottawa.

A significant number of immigrants fall within the 25 to 44 year-old age range at the time of migration and the vast majority have a post-secondary education

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MCP Findings for PeterboroughHome to a vibrant arts, culture, and heritage

community, with levels of activity far above those typically found in other communities of its size

Peterborough is rich in cultural assets that are unique to it.

For a city of its size, Peterborough has had success attracting this young talent to the city

Peterborough’s vibrancy and high quality of life are drawing an increasing number of young creative industry workers and professionals to the city

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MCP and Diversity

Peterborough’s MCP must have: a broad and inclusive definition and

understanding of culture and heritage values

celebrate diverse cultural traditions, forms of expression and cultural heritage.

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Strategic Direction #6Encourage Inclusivity and Facilitate Diversity

Encourage Inclusivity and Facilitate Diversity - partner with a wide array of organizations to promote diversity and facilitate a more inclusive city, continuing to attract and retain newcomers and youth, and continuing to respond to the needs of the changing demographics.

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Strategic Direction #6Encourage Inclusivity and Facilitate Diversity

6.1 Actively support newcomers through collaboration with community partners

6.1.1 Continue membership in, and support of, Peterborough Partnership Council on Immigration and the New Canadian Centre

6.1.2 Continue to support the Immigration Portal

6.1.3 Continue to support the PPCII in immigrant attraction and retention

6.1.4 Continue to ensure that the programming and resources of the PPL mirror the cultural needs of the community

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Strategic Direction #6Encourage Inclusivity and Facilitate Diversity

6.2 Celebrate First Nations

6.2.1 Maintain ongoing dialogue with First Nations groups

6.2.2 Respect First Nations protocols and traditions in City processes

6.2.3 Provide support and access to City resources for First Nations events and activities in the city through collaboration with Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre

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Strategic Direction #6Encourage Inclusivity and Facilitate Diversity

6.3 Encourage and actively promote involvement by diverse groups (age, ethnic backgrounds, orientation) in existing cultural and city-wide events

6.3.1 Review programming for major events to ensure that there are no barriers to involvement

6.3.2 Support the active recruitment of board members that represent the diversity of the community

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Strategic Direction #6Encourage Inclusivity and Facilitate Diversity

6.3 Encourage and actively promote involvement by diverse groups (age, ethnic backgrounds, orientation) in existing cultural and city-wide events

6.3.3 Consider how to incorporate activities at major events that reflect the diversity of the community

6.3.4 Continue to support Multi-Cultural Canada Day

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Strategic Direction #6Encourage Inclusivity and Facilitate Diversity

6.4 Increase capacity for multi-cultural community gatherings

6.4.1 Complete a feasibility study on the potential need for the creation of a multicultural centre – a dedicated, shared space for multi-cultural groups

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Strategic Direction #6Encourage Inclusivity and Facilitate Diversity

6.5 Improve communication and awareness about a user friendly community calendar that is inclusive of all cultural events

6.5.1 Provide multi-cultural meeting space in existing City-owned and managed facilities

6.5.2 Bring community calendar onto City servers to improve quality

6.5.3 Increase awareness and encourage corporate use of calendar

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Ontario in the Creative Agerich natural resource

areaswealth of human talent, strong social

infrastructure, breadth and depth of

higher education

unprecedented diversity,

generally safe cities and neighbourhoods,

thriving creative and cultural industries

Roger Martin and Richard Florida. Ontario in the Creative Age: Toward a New Economic Blueprint, 2009

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