Item Criteria

Appearing on the map are seven categories, differentiated by color and icon.

Cultural industries

This category includes businesses involved in the creation, production, manufacturing and distribution of cultural goods or services. Examples: Commercial theatres, cinemas, costume/set designers, creative software/graphic designers, photographers, videographers, film producers, bookstores, publishers, commercial music studios, instrument manufacturers/retailers, dance studios/companies, choreographers, artisanal food companies, agri-tourism, wineries, radio and television broadcasters, architecture firms, commercial art studios, art supplies manufacturers/retailers, etc.

Cultural organizations

This category includes organizations that represent arts, heritage and ethno-cultural interests in the community. Examples: Heritage societies, art committees/councils, ethno-cultural associations, library boards, community bands and choirs, art and craft groups, community theatre groups, writers/book clubs, naturalist societies, etc.

Cultural facilities

This category includes buildings and sites that host cultural activity in the public, private and non-profit sectors. Examples: Multi-purpose facilities, stages, auditoriums, restaurants that host regular music events, cafes that feature local art, farmers markets, recording studios, dance studios, art galleries, libraries, archives, community centres, etc.

Natural heritage

This category includes natural wonders and areas of environmental and cultural significance. Examples: Municipal parks, conservation areas, botanical gardens, natural landmarks, zoos, heritage trails, etc.

Cultural heritage

This category includes the management and exhibition of objects, buildings and sites of historical, cultural and educational value. Examples: Heritage homes, museums, historical landmarks and sites, note-worthy architecture, historical churches and cemeteries, etc.

Events & festivals

This category includes cultural festivals and events in the local region. The map only identifies regularly held events. For an extensive listing of one-off events, visit www.valleyevents.ca. Examples: Music festivals, annual productions, art and craft shows, agricultural fairs, municipal events, annual nature walks, community picnics, film festivals, annual art exhibits, etc.

Digital stories

These stories allow us to acknowledge cultural assets that are not necessarily manifest in physical form. Examples: The narratives cover important ways in which we engage in culture such as stories about family recipes, recalling histories and memories, eternalizing folklore, sharing unique experiences, building relationships and connections in the community, preserving traditions, etc.

*The cultural resource framework used for the project has been adopted from Authenticity’s model and adapted to suit the local region.