News Release

HRM’s Cultural Advisory Committee launches web pages, says:
Show Your Culture!

(Thursday, September 29, 2005) - HRM’s Cultural Advisory Committee (CAC) has officially launched its web presence at www.halifax.ca/culturalplan with a call to the public to Show Your Culture!

“This is a very exciting, dynamic point in the delivery of HRM’s Cultural Plan,” said Sue Uteck, HRM Councillor for District 13 and Chair of the CAC. “It’s critical that we reach people with the details of the plan, and they are able to give us their input to help us draft it. That’s why we’re launching our web pages: to give people a resource that provides them with freshly updated plan progress as well as an outlet for their feedback.”

In February 2005, Halifax Regional council authorized the establishment of the Cultural Advisory Committee to develop a draft Cultural Plan to help guide the region’s future cultural development. The plan, which will encompass rural, suburban, and urban areas, will recognize culture as the foundation of HRM’s social vitality and a major driver of economic and community development.

The CAC recently presented draft Goals and Objectives to Council and received a unanimous endorsement. Phase II of their public consultations has recently begun with a series of focus groups.

Cultural Plan Timeline:

February, 2005: HRM Council authorizes formation of Cultural Advisory Committee to work with the public to draft Cultural Plan

June/July 2005: Phase one public consultations conducted

September 2005: Draft Cultural Plan Goals and Objectives presented to HRM Council; Cultural Plan web pages launch; phase two of public consultation begins

November/December 2005: Draft of Cultural Plan presented to Council; phase three of public consultation begins

Late Fall 2005: Final draft of Cultural Plan presented to Council

For more information about the Cultural Plan, please visit the Cultural Plan web pages at: www.halifax.ca/culturalplan

The design work for the Cultural Plan web pages was a joint effort of Martin Poirier, a student designer from the Nova Scotia College of Arts and Design, and HRM’s Corporate Communications. The CAC logo was designed by Martin Poirier.

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John O’Brien
Corporate Communications Officer
(902) 490-6531
obrienj@halifax.ca

Holly Richardson
Cultural Advisory Committee Communications Representative
(902) 490-6889
richarh@halifax.ca