Local Culture Days Celebration Achieves Top 10 National Ranking

Halton Hills, ON – This year, Culture Days expanded into a month-long festival offering free arts and culture activities across Canada, from September 25-October 25. Building on last year’s 5^th place ranking for “Mid-size Cities” based on the number of activities registered, Halton Hills presented 75 activities earning a 4^th place finish in the same category. Additionally, for the first time ever, Halton Hills appeared on the top 10 overall list, placing fifth among 215 participating communities from coast to coast.

With the arts and culture sector navigating unprecedented obstacles due to COVID-19, Culture Days organizers were called upon to present creative experiences for the public in a variety of new formats including live-streams, pre-recorded video content, and self-guided programs. In total, 29 per cent of activities in Halton Hills were self-guided and 31 per cent were presented digitally with online programs receiving over 5,000 views. Twenty per cent of activities were provided as in-person events (with added health and safety precautions) attracting approximately 350 participants.

“Like many other businesses, artists and arts organizations are being challenged to find new ways to safely connect with the community,” said Mayor Rick Bonnette. “The individuals and groups who participated in Culture Days this year utilized innovative strategies to deliver engaging activities; this leadership clearly showcases our commitment to arts and culture.”

The Helson Gallery received special recognition from Ontario Culture Days, as runner-up for the Accessibility category of the annual Spotlight Awards. The gallery presented over 20 activities for Culture Days in a variety of formats, supporting professional artists and arts education for all ages. The Halton Hills Public Library received a People’s Choice Nomination for the Moccasin Identifier Project.

To view Culture Days highlights, including photos from events, and digital or self-guided activities that are still available to the public, visit the Culture Days webpage

About the Town of Halton Hills

The Town of Halton Hills, with a population of approximately 60,000, consists of two urban centres, Georgetown and Acton, the Halton Hills Premier Gateway employment area, three hamlets – Glen Williams, Stewarttown and Norval – and several smaller settlements. Halton Hills has long been recognized for its natural beauty, active agricultural community, high quality of life and proximity to major centres, including Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto.  The Town is ranked as one of the top small communities in Canada by a national magazine.

Visit the Town of Halton Hills website

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