“In five years, Mapleton will be a culturally vibrant community characterized by diverse cultural resources and offerings. It will be a recognized tourism destination supporting a strong and diversified local economy. Mapleton will be a community with a strong sense of shared identity and civic pride.”
That’s the vision contained in the Township of Mapleton Municipal Cultural Plan approved by council on June 23.
The plan was presented to council by Greg Baeker from Millier Dickinson Blais, the consulting firm engaged to assist a local steering committee with development of the plan last September. A $25,000 grant from Wellington County’s Business Retention and Expansion Implementation Fund assisted with the project costs.
The plan’s vision will be accomplished through a focus on leadership, marketing and business development, forging partnerships, and community vitality, states a report from Mapleton business development and marketing coordinator Crystal Ellis.
“The plan provides a solid base of actions that the Township of Mapleton can begin to implement, which will result in a positive impact to culture in Mapleton over the next five years,” Ellis states in the report.
Councillor Marlene Ottens, a member of the steering committee, said participants were surprised by the variety of cultural activity in the community.
“We were kind of stunned to realize that we have 180 cultural assets in Mapleton. I hope that residents try to find all 180 of them,” said Ottens.
Ellis said a further step in the plan implementation process “would be mapping out those cultural assets so they are more accessible to people.”
A summary of the plan provided by Baeker indicates completion of the Mapleton Municipal Cultural Plan at this time “opens up important opportunities for regional collaboration.” The summary notes municipal cultural plans have already been completed in Wellington North, Minto and Centre Wellington, and “Collaboration in cultural development will build on existing commitments and activities in regional collaboration.”
The township is planning to post the plan on its website.
