South Georgian Bay Cultural Mapping Presentation from Greg Baeker on Vimeo.

The cultural data will now be integrated into each municipality’s GIS systems which will allow the municipality to create static (paper) maps, interactive maps, or analyze the data for specific planning purposes including the analysis of cultural information vis-a-vis other planning issues such as demographic data, zoning issues, community facilities and services, etc. The data has also been shared with the County of Simcoe for use in their mapping projects and tourism promotions.

1. We’ve consolidated your comments and ideas from the workshops and placed them on the website under Workshop Findings
2. Changes to the cultural assets mapped for the workshops have been integrated and we’d like to create new maps for the website
3. We’re working with the Applied Geomatics Research Group in Nova Scotia to prepare the cultural data gathered by AuthentiCity, for transfer to each municipality for the purposes of adding to the Geomatic Information Systems housed in the municipal planning departments.  The data will be in categories consistent across the region as framed by Dr. Baeker and used by Statistics Canada.  This will allow us to maintain, change and build on the cultural data to create new maps helpful for land-use planning, economic development, tourism and regional collaborative planning.
4. A final report prepared by AuthentiCity and economic analysis prepared by Millier Dickinson Blais, on the region’s cultural assets have been reviewed by the Steering Committee.  We’ve provided these documents to the consultants that are preparing the Regional Economic Development Strategy and its recommendations, due for completion this Fall.  Some of the highlights of Dr. Baeker’s reports include:

-         The importance of culture in enhancing quality of place in the region.

-          The relationship of quality of place to cultural tourism, one of the fastest-growing and lucrative segments of the North American travel industry.

-          The potential to maximize the region’s appeal to cultural tourists based on its unique identity and ‘sense of place’.

-          The potential to attract tourists through the internet and to increase audience engagement through social media.

-          The highest numbers of creative cultural industries in the region are in design, performing arts, advertising, motion picture and video industries, and publishing (2009).

-          In terms of growth in numbers of creative cultural occupations (versus % growth/decline) the six highest areas of growth were in authors and writers, journalists, graphic designers and illustrators, artisans and craftspeople, musicians and singers, and painters, sculptors and other visual artists.

-          The emergence of small business and entrepreneurship in the region, coupled with the fact that many creative cultural occupations are small businesses, often home-based.

We recognize that this is just the beginning to cultural mapping in our region.  The South Georgian Bay Cultural Mapping Steering Committee plans to continue meeting in the Fall to collaborate and discuss ways we can continue to gather cultural data at the community level.  Please check in with our website periodically.  In the meantime, I invite you to contact us with any new cultural information you might have.  For example if you know about a new gallery, or creative business in the community, please let us know.

The consultants for the Regional Economic Development Strategy are planning a Town Hall meeting in the Fall to share the findings, recommendations and next steps of this project.

Over June 9-10, 2010, public workshops were held in each community to introduce the project and present preliminary maps and findings. Images from the four workshops are shown below followed by a summary of discussion at the meetings. More detailed workshop findings are set out on the Project Findings page.

View Photo Album

There were about 70 participants in the 4 workshops and really great energy, feedback and suggestions for gathering more data and continuing the project.  The maps displayed at each workshop were covered with “sticky” notes to mark the location of additional cultural assets, places and stories of cultural significance.

In response to what was the most valuable part of the workshop, responses included: “coming together for a common goal”; “meeting with other cultural enthusiasts and ambassadors in the area”; “hearing stories and posting cultural assets on the map”.  As to the benefits of attending the workshops, participants said: “learning first hand about cultural mapping”; “the opportunity to grow and thrive economically while embracing our past and our various cultures”; and “understanding the project and how to participate.”

Participants wished we’d encouraged them to visit the website before the workshop to learn more about cultural mapping prior to attending and that we’d provided more information about the maps as well as time to review the interactive map and discuss its future potential.  It was felt that more time for the workshops would have been helpful as well as smaller discussion groups and increased opportunity to provide input.  Participants expressed that more attendance from various cultural groups is important and some would have liked to have more discussion about next steps and expectations for active work in the future.

“The most exciting thing about the project was the opportunity to celebrate the area’s cultural diversity”; “collaboration amongst the communities”; “authentic building of community identity and sense of place” and “consolidation of information and efforts”.

Participants expressed that the greatest opportunity for the region is “cultural mapping as an integral component of cultural planning”; “an interactive map to engage and attract youth and visitors”; “linking stories together”; “to promote the incredibly creative local artist collectively”; “creating an opportunity to talk about culture in each community and regionally”; gathering information and statistics to better understand culture in each community and the region.”

Among the suggestions for the project were to make sure that the cultural mapping project in ongoing and supported, reduce duplication of materials and use existing vehicles such as recreation guides to promote culture.  Creating a “cultural mapping information booth” at events was suggested as a means to gather local stories from residents, particularly those who may not attend meetings or use the web.  It was also expressed that continued effort be made to make the project known to the wider community.

Media Coverage

Culture an Economic Driver Says Expert – The Enterprise Bulletin June 16, 2010