The Collingwood Downtown Business Improvement Area (BIA) will be moving forward with plans for a new gateway feature downtown after getting approval from council last week.
However, some additional direction on the theme from a councillor may determine what that feature could look like and say about Collingwood.
During Thursday’s (Aug. 18) regular meeting, council voted in favour of the BIA proceeding with a public art process for a gateway feature for the downtown. During discussion on the topic, Coun. Deb Doherty noted that while attending the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference last week, she sat in on presentations regarding the relationships between municipalities and Indigenous communities.
“While virtually every municipality in Ontario sits on lands originally owned by and cared for by Indigenous people, virtually no municipality has recognition of that fact in its heritage or art installations,” said Doherty.
Doherty put forward a notice of motion asking the BIA that as part of the exploration of art opportunities for the gateway feature, they explore the possibility of an Indigenous art installation for the downtown, which will be discussed and voted on by council at a future meeting.
Mayor Keith Hull noted that Collingwood council supported a significant investment into the creation of the Awen Gathering Circle in Harbourview Park.
“Let’s not limit it to the BIA – let’s make it community-wide,” said Hull.
Based on a plan proposed and approved by the BIA board, the process for the public art gateway feature would follow the town’s public art policy, and would begin with planning by an ad-hoc committee to come up with a budget and theme with an invitation to the community to participate on the committee.
During discussion on the matter during a strategic initiatives standing committee meeting earlier this month, BIA general manager Sue Nicholson told councillors that the theme for the feature is currently under discussion, however is leaning toward ‘What has built this downtown,' leaning toward shipbuilding and railway themes.
Later, there will be a call to artists, a selection process with interviews, and, ultimately, the installation of the piece. A public art working group selected for the project would include town staff, BIA, community members, and representatives from the Collingwood Museum, the historical society, and the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts.
The BIA’s goal is to move quickly through the process to have a final design and artist contracted by the end of January 2023.
The project would be funded by a $215,000 federal grant which must be used for beautification of the downtown before March 31, 2023. If not used by that date, the BIA would lose the federal funding.
Council approved their support of proceeding with a gateway feature by a vote of 6-1 with Coun. Chris Carrier opposed. Coun. Bob Madigan declared a conflict on the matter and didn’t participate in discussions as he is a BIA member.
UPDATE: Council voted in favour of requesting the BIA consider Indigenous art for the gateway feature at their Sept. 20 regular meeting.
