About Culture
This project is now complete.
Culture is a central part of a community and can be seen in every day life, local events, and architecture. The Timmins Arts and Culture Master Plan will improve quality of life and community pride by recommending strategies that encourage us to promote, appreciate and contribute to the arts and culture landscape. We have so much talent in our community! The plan will help us understand how we can leverage that talent to support a vibrant, creative community. Download the plan from our Reports page.
Culture “centrally reflects the people, their heritage and collective lifestyle and is comprised of shared values, beliefs, social traditions and conventions that help to contribute to a sense of community and sense of place.” Culture includes various forms of creative expression and activity in a society, such as:
- Professional activities, e.g. architecture, software development, communications consulting
- Recreational activities
- Cultural products such as literature, art, music
- Performing arts
- Communications media such as radio, television, newspapers and social media
Guiding Principles for Master Plan Development included:
- Community Legacy (how can we plan for culture over the long term)
- Accessibility, Diversity and Inclusion
- How to best foster local talent & creative expression
- Integration and Collaboration among cultural groups in the community
- Core Commitment & Sustainability on behalf of the city
The Arts and Culture Plan Timeline
Fall 2013
- A Steering Committee made up of community representatives selected a consulting team through a competitive process
- The Consultants worked with the Steering Committee to develop a process that would work for Timmins
- The Consultants began gathering research and best practices to inform the plan
- 500 people responded to public surveys about Tourism in the community.
- 600 people participated in public consultations.
Winter 2013
- The City sought youth and senior input
- Cultural groups responded to specific surveys
- Consultants presented findings from on-going surveys, focus groups to the public
- Consultants held 5 public consultations to go over proposed recommendations
- Consultants met with Council and City admin for feedback
March 2014
- Council requested a final round of public consultation sessions
- Final draft completed
Summer 2014
On July 28th 2014 city council accepted a draft of an integrated culture, tourism and recreation master plan. The plan contains feedback from over 2,000 residents and stakeholders and is a good foundation for growth for the city.
The plan contains more than 100 recommendations that will be used as decision making starting points for council. Members of council stress that the plan is a great source document but that not all the recommendations will be passed. Councillors state that there will be more sessions held regarding which recommendations will be passed and what the time line for implementation will be.
Meet the ARTS AND CULTURE PLAN Steering Committee
Coordinator: Andrea Griener, (heather.duhn@timmins.ca)
Members:
- Karen Bachmann, Timmins Museum National Exhibition Centre
- Nancy Delmonte, Owner, The Nancy Delmonte Academy of Dance
- John Emms, local musician and writer
- Matthew Jones, Timmins Symphony Orchestra
- Gary Lew, representative of cultural minorities
- Veronica Nicholson, Timmins Native Friendship Centre
- John Okonmah, Timmins Economic Development Corporation
- Daniel Ouellet, La Ronde Cultural Centre
- David Vallier, City of Timmins
- Coral Ethier, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (ex-officio)
What you can do:
- Read the plan
- Get involved with cultural programming or organization in Timmins
- Show up at cultural events and support local artists and cultural entrepreneurs
Project funding provided by 
