Kootenay Insights :: Tanya Laing Gahr A focus on Kootenay Communities…
Witness to a renaissance
Hal Kalman (L) and Susan Medville, facilitators from Commonwealth Historic Resource Management Limited —Photo by Tanya Laing Gahr
Cranbrook seems to be coming into its own these days. The city has long been the economic centre of the Kootenay region and for many years seemed to reflect a more industrial esthetic, favouring function over form. And even with a deep well of talented artists and performers and a rich history that is appreciated by the people in Cranbrook, there seems to be a pervasive perception that Cranbrook lacks colour or that local culture is not well-regarded by the people who live in the city or that art is not supported while sporting events thrive. Perhaps there is even some basis for those ideas. Cranbrook is, in many regards, a no-nonsense, practical, hard-working city. But it is also a city with a very active cultural life. There are numerous painters, writers, sculptors, blacksmiths, photographers and other artisans of almost every description. The Symphony of the Kootenays has been bringing classical and contemporary music to Cranbrook since 1975. The Key City Theatre and the Studio/Stage Door have produced hundreds of well-received theatrical productions. The Canadian Museum of Rail Travel is well known to train enthusiasts across Canada. And a wealth of talented artists and performers from Cranbrook have gone on to gain critical and popular acclaim around the world. Clearly, arts and heritage are an important aspect of Cranbrook, albeit one that has not been given the prominence it deserves—until now. The Cranbrook & District Arts Council, together with the City of Cranbrook, has engaged the services of Harold Kalman and Susan Medville, facilitators from Commonwealth Historic Resource Management Limited (CHRML). Kalman and Medville have been tasked with working with the arts council and various community stakeholders to create a cultural plan that will support the development of arts and heritage in the city and help raise the profile of the arts to residents and visitors. Kalman said a cultural plan is vital to the economic development of a community in ways that are both tangible and direct. “There are benefits to encouraging (culture),” said Kalman. “There are quality of life benefits that make this a better place to live and therefore attract an educated, higher-income resident to the area and there are benefits in other ways, too…If we want to have meaningful, diversified lives, we have to have cultural productions of some sort.” Kalman cited Nelson’s vibrant artistic scene, which has turned into a substantial economic engine for the region. And studies show that investment in the arts can in turn fuel investment in communities. Clearly, there is nothing trivial about arts and heritage. “Kalman said creating a cultural plan means understanding who the people are in any given community. Art reflects the society in which it is produced and is unique to the people who create it. Our history, our art is our identifier. That’s significant. So the information that Kalman and Medville are collecting during visioning seminars and interviews will go toward creating a series of prioritized recommendations for the city that will include marketing strategies, suggestions for necessary facilities or venues, funding options and other medium- and long-range goals to foster Cranbrook’s cultural development. While the recommendations are detailed, said Kalman, many of the specific actions are general enough to be custom-fit for the city. As well, it is important that any initiatives are not driven solely by city administration. “It will be shared responsibility between the City and the community,” said Kalman. This initiative comes at a time when Cranbrook is in the midst of redefining itself within the region and on the global stage. The City of Cranbrook is weeks away from unveiling a new brand to help market the city to the world as a desirable place to work, play and live. Even in a down economy, there are still several important developments and investments that are creating a wealth of opportunities for residents of the area. And Mayor Scott Manjak is envisioning a future that will see Cranbrook in the forefront of a new economy. “I want this area…to be recognized in five years throughout the province and Canada as the new model for sustainability in how we build,” said Manjak. “I think it’s time; we have the people, we have the resources, we have the talent and we have all the assets.” With this vision and a desire to invigorate arts and heritage in the city, Cranbrook’s renaissance has truly begun. For more information on CHRML, see "www.chrml.com(http://www.chrml.com)":http://www.chrml.com.
Senior writer Tanya Laing Gahr has been writing for Kootenay Business magazine since 2006, and through the hundreds of stories she has written for the magazine and website, she has gained a deeper understanding of the unique and diverse nature of businesses in the region.
More than that, however, she has gained a sense of how the individual communities drive the businesses, helping chart the direction they go. Each district, town and city has a particular outlook and personality, and each take on challenges that continue to define who they are in the region and in the world.
Join Tanya as she explores the initiatives, movements, projects and developments that help shape Kootenay communities, the businesses in the region and the people who live here.
Email Tanya if you have a business story idea.
