Council adopts cultural, Annandale House plans

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

The Town of Tillsonburg has a new cultural master plan and a strategic plan for Annandale National Historic Site.

Town council approved the Tillsonburg Cultural Master Plan and Annandale National Historic Site Strategic Plan after a presentation from the consultants who prepared the report. TCI Management Consultants completed the report, and teamed up with Canadian Museum Services for the Annandale plan.

Preparation of the plan included reviewing background documents, meeting with staff, conducting a community survey and meeting with community groups.

“The vision sees the arts as combining many different ideas that give the community dynamism that appeals to both residents and visitors,” Greg Young of TCI said.

He said the plan brings together different aspects of the community and highlights what is unique about it.

“What’s often not appreciated is arts and culture contribute to economic impact in the community,” Young added.

The plan is segmented into five areas of activity that reinforce one another: culture, identity, heritage, and storytelling; arts, creativity, and cultural expression; community participation and cultural inclusion; cultural tourism and economic development; and cultural leadership, partnerships, and sustainability.

Jon Linton of TCI said Southwestern Ontario sees $3.9 billion added to its economy through the creative sector.

John Summers of Canadian Museum Services provided an overview of the Annandale National Historic Site plan, explaining its mandate is to “preserve, interpret and provide public access to the heritage of Tillsonburg and the surrounding area.”

The new mission is: “We want to help connect the stories that are already here with people’s lives and tell them why it matters and why it’s important.”

A key outcome of the plan is to foster curiosity and create a sense of belonging and pride in the community’s shared heritage. It was emphasized that it’s important the history of the community is preserved and passed forward to future generations.

Action areas in the plan are:

• Heritage stewardship and collections care

• Interpretation, education and storytelling.

• Community engagement and cultural inclusion

• Cultural tourism, visibility and visitor experience

• Organizational capacity, leadership and sustainability

Several suggestions were made, including addressing the acquisition backlog, making a two-year strategic investment in exhibit presentation, extending elevator access to the third floor, launching a digital archive of “stories of Tillsonburg”, developing heritage plaque and QR code trail, creating an Indigenous cultural partnership plan, and expanding events programming.

Coun. Kelly Spencer, who sits on the town committee overseeing culture and the museum, asked what aspects of the plan engage the town’s youth.

“There were a number of specific suggestions that would involve and engage youth,” Linton said.

Kate Bakos, cultural heritage manager/curator, explained the five-year strategic plan lays out a vision for Annandale House, but all expenditures still come to council for approval.

Council accepted the report as information.