In Waterloo, Cultural Services are provided by staff in the Community Services division of the Department of Recreation and Leisure Services.  In spring 2007, the City of Waterloo’s Recreation and Leisure Services Department engaged the services of the IBI Group to assist in the development of a comprehensive Master Plan for the Department.  After much community consultation, in June 2008, Council received the consultants’ draft report (Version 5.0)   The final report with the implementation plan is scheduled for Council’s review in the fall of 2008. 

The Master Plan process addresses arts, culture and heritage to some extent.  However, the report also recommends further planning work.  

“Waterloo’s demographic, industrial and cultural profile describes a diverse, high-tech community poised on the cusp of transformation as a creative city.  This transformation, which is critical to the future development of the city, requires a more in depth assessment of its cultural resources and capacity than this discussion, presented as a chapter within the Recreation and Leisure Services Master Plan, is able to provide.  The need for a dedicated Cultural Plan is underscored by a number of issues and challenges related to this area.”  (pp 7-5)

Waterloo Recreation and Leisure Services Master Plan - Recommendations re Arts, Culture & Heritage

City of Waterloo staff will take further direction from Council and will take further action when the Master Plan process is completed, and the implementation process begins. 

Please contact staff for more information, or to provide further comment:

Betty Anne Keller (Recchia)

(519) 747-8505

brecchia@city.waterloo.on.ca

Karen VandenBrink

(519) 885-8828

kvandenbrink@city.waterloo.on.ca