our community culture projectphase 1 report - baseline cultural mapping

realizing Hamilton’s potential as a creative city

may 1, 2010

Appendix A to Report CS10057Page 1 of 175

our community culture projectphase 1 report - baseline cultural mapping

realizing Hamilton’s potential as a creative city

may 1, 2010

Appendix A to Report CS10057Page 1 of 175

The photograph on the cover of this report is of the underside of the Birks Clock. The Birks Clock is part of the City of Hamilton’s Art in Public Places Collection. First located on the corner of what became the Birks Building at James South and King East, the clock was moved to the entrance of Jackson Square. The fully restored clock will hang in the Hamilton Farmers’ Market on York Blvd.

Report produced by AuthentiCity for the Culture Division, Community Services Department, City of Hamilton.

table of contents

Photograph by Jeff Tessier

Dining Room at Whitehern Historic House & Garden - Hamilton Civic Museums

table of contents

Letter of Introduction 7

Executive Summary 10

1 Cultural Planning Definitions 20

2 Cultural Mapping Findings 26 What is Cultural Mapping? 28 OCC Phase 1 - Mapping Goals and Process 30 OCC Phase 1 - Mapping Results 32 An Ongoing Cultural Mapping System for Hamilton 36 Next Steps in Cultural Mapping 38

3 Understanding the Planning Context 40

The Creative Economy 42 Culture and Planning for Sustainability 46 Culture and Place Competitiveness 46

4 Integrating Culture in City Planning 48

Statistical Snapshot of Hamilton 50 Strategic Themes for Phase 2 56

5 OCC Phase 2 - A Cultural Policy and Plan for Hamilton 67

Draft Principles 69 OCC Phase 2 - Leadership and Resourcing 70 A Planning Process and Engagement Strategy 71 Community Identity Mapping and Community Engagement 72

table of contents 5

Appendix A: Terms of Reference: Project Steering Team

Appendix B: Terms of Reference: Cultural Mapping Working Group

Appendix C: Statistical Research Report

Appendix D: Cultural Mapping Report

Appendix E: Cultural Resource Framework

Appendix F: Baseline Cultural Mapping Data by City of Hamilton Wards

Appendix G: Cultural Maps

Appendix H: Planning Documents Resource List

Appendix I: Overview of Hamilton Plans and Strategies

Appendix J: Planning Context Research

Appendix K: A Story of Us / A Story of Place – Full Research Report

Appendix L: Glossary of Municipal Cultural Planning Terms

table of contents 6

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letter of introduction

Photograph by Ann Manson

James Street North and Hamilton Harbour

letter of introduction 9

BackgroundCompletion of Phase 1 of the Our Community Culture (OCC) Project represents the City of Hamilton’s commitment to develop a Cultural Policy and Plan for the Corporation and reflects leading practice in municipal cultural planning. With Council endorsement, the Culture Division, Community Services Department, has taken the lead role in undertaking Phase 1 of the OCC Project on behalf of the Corporation. The OCC Project evolved over a period of 18 months led by a Project Steering Team comprised of City staff and community representatives. The Project Steering Team worked with Dr. Greg Baeker and Kat Runnalls of the consulting firm AuthentiCity who together bring more than sixty years of experience in culture sector planning and development.

Report Content

The OCC Report was prepared by the consultants and it details the following outcomes from the work of Phase 1:

Cultural Mapping - Phase 1 involved the development of a baseline inventory (rooted in emerging provincial standards) of Hamilton’s cultural assets using a process called cultural mapping. The cultural mapping work produced a systematic database and spatial mapping of cultural resources in Hamilton using the City’s GIS system, and also provides a tool for continuously updating and expanding this data. Cultural mapping is a current priority of the Government of Ontario and Hamilton is one of the first municipalities in the province to complete a comprehensive cultural mapping process. The OCC Phase 1 Report makes recommendations on how the City can implement cultural mapping as part of ongoing planning and economic development efforts.

Strategic Themes - The content of the OCC Phase 1 Report was developed from City planning documents and data identified by the Project Steering Team, analyzed by the Consultants and combined with relevant statistical and historical research. The review of planning documents and data analysis identified opportunities to integrate culture into all facets of municipal planning and decision making and has been grouped into three Strategic Themes: Creative Hamilton, Culture and Planning for Sustainability, and Creative Cultural Sector Development.

Recommendations for Phase 2 - The OCC Phase 1 Report includes recommendations on how to proceed with the development of the City’s Cultural Policy and Plan (Phase 2).

What’s Next?

The City of Hamilton is undertaking one of the most comprehensive approaches to the development of a Cultural Policy and Plan and has the potential to establish a new benchmark for municipal cultural planning in Canada. The baseline cultural resource mapping results, Strategic Themes and planning opportunities will form the basis of a community and stakeholder engagement process to develop the Cultural Policy and Plan in Phase 2. Council’s endorsement of the OCC Phase 1 Report positions the City to undertake Phase 2.

The Project Steering Team should be commended and thanked for their tireless dedication and remarkable contribution to the completion of this project.

Anna M. Bradford, Director of Culture Sponsor of the OCCLOVE YOUR CITY

Anna M. BradfordDirector of Culture