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Culture and Recreation
Culture
What we do
The Culture and Recreation department provides inclusive, safe and enjoyable recreational and cultural programming and opportunities for all community members. We manage, operate and program the City’s community facilities and spaces such as community centres and arenas, museum, performing arts centre and civic squares, as well as public art development. In addition, this department supports grant allocations, subsidy programs and community investment programs.
The department strives to meet and exceed the needs of the community through active engagement of residents and stakeholders, strategic partnerships, community outreach, volunteerism and events.
Why we do it
Under the Strategic Plan priority of Working Together for our Future, this team strives to attract and develop highly skilled professionals who work collaboratively internally and externally to deliver quality programs and services.
The work we do in this department also advances the Powering our Future priority by actively providing a diverse range of enriching cultural and heritage and recreational opportunities. These programs and services support economic growth while enriching the lives and health of our community.
We will continue to support the Sustaining our Future priority by delivering diverse programs and services that better the health and wellness of the community.
We are Building our Future when we invest in community and social services supporting overall community well-being. By providing opportunities for fair and equitable participation and belonging we foster civic connectivity and community vitality.
2021 to 2024+ initiatives
- Continue to expand our understanding of the full and truthful history of the place we now know as Guelph through dialogue with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples; allowing our learnings to influence our work.
- Expand Guelph Museums’ online educational programs.
- Implement new granting streams through the Community Investment Strategy.
- Partner with Economic Development in the Culture and Tourism Rebuilding and support financial resiliency.
Budget details
Operating budget—Revenues and expenses
2021 budget impacts
- User fee revenue was not increased due to uncertainty with Covid-19.
- $45,500 net increase in purchased goods due to increase in utility costs.
- $26,100 net increase in internal charges due to increased cost for fuel, maintenance and insurance.
2022 to 2024 budget impacts
- Inflationary adjustment in compensation, fuel, maintenance, utilities and insurance.
- Revenue budgets to be reviewed in 2021 to assess the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on City programs.