New $2.5-million heritage and culture plan endorsed by HRM council

A detailed plan to redefine how decisions around culture and heritage in the Halifax Regional Municipality are prioritized over the next decade was endorsed by regional council on Tuesday, setting the stage for re-energized focus, investment and greater diversity.

HRM’s culture and heritage priorities plan, entitled Sharing our Stories, was seven years in the making and includes 44 recommended actions that aim to build more inclusive and diverse cultural communities and to promote and protect cultural and heritage celebrations and sites across HRM.

Key recommendations flagged for “rapid” action are focused on improving heritage conservation protection and on ways to better represent diverse cultures and time periods within the region, notably those important to the Mi’kmaq, African Nova Scotian, Acadian and LGBTQ2S+ communities.

When fully implemented, the plan will add at least $2.54 million in ongoing costs to HRM’s annual operating budget by 2029, although this estimate accounts only for the anticipated additional staffing needed to deliver on the recommendations.

On Tuesday, council voted to endorse the direction of the Sharing our Stories plan and include it as part of the framework for HRM’s ongoing work in developing its new regional plan for how growth and development should take place in the municipality.

Coun. David Hendsbee (Preston-Chezzetcook-Eastern Shore) called the plan a “significant story” for the municipality and said he hopes future projects will address a growing number of abandoned cemeteries. These cemeteries are the responsibility of the municipality if there is no congregation to maintain them, and they are important heritage sites, Hendsbee said.

“I think we have an obligation there to look at trying to preserve, protect and probably promote some of our genealogical assets that are out there.”

But not all comments about the new plan were positive.

Coun. Trish Purdy (Cole Harbour-Westphal-Lake Loon-Cherry Brook) was not able to attend the meeting Tuesday but, in a written statement read by Hendsbee, she expressed concern over the plan’s budget. It includes costs to hire about 26 people over the next decade.

Other levels of government also have responsibility over heritage and culture, and HRM residents are already facing a steep tax burden, Purdy said in her statement.

“To add additional financial pressures to our budget at this time is just not prudent,” she said in the statement.

Despite her objections, the motion to support the plan and to direct the municipality’s chief administrative officer to consider including its proposed budget as part of the upcoming 2024-25 municipal budget passed unanimously.

The plan is the result of a lengthy public engagement process that included targeted consultation activities to ensure voices and perspectives of traditionally under-represented groups were heard.

Key themes that emerged from this feedback called for the municipality to make participation in cultural activities more accessible, affordable, inclusive and reflective of the municipality’s diverse population.

Historically underrepresented communities, their stories, identities and community boundaries should also be given greater recognition in HRM’s culture and heritage activities, stakeholders told the city.

Some key recommendations prioritized for rapid movement include:

• Developing cultural and heritage-impact assessment criteria within planning documents and municipal bylaws to ensure heritage contexts are included in evaluation of new developments
• Developing a “friendship accord” with Mi’kmaq communities, organizations, band councils and Grand Council to outline a formal government-to-government relationship and to explore areas for joint development of projects and funding proposals
• Enhancing awareness and support for events commemorating Indigenous History Month, Treaty Day, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and other significant events