HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-07-15 ACAC Minutes
Arts and Culture Advisory Committee
July 15, 2025, 4:00 p.m.
Schmalz Room - Second Floor City Hall
City of Kitchener
200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7
Present: J. Hall, Chair
R. Labrie, Vice Chair
O. Ajibade, Member
M. Lam, Member
A. Mehta, Member
W. Rahimi, Member
N. Stretch, Member
S. Florence, Member
Staff: J. Dueck, Director, Culture & Entertainment
A. Hallam, Manager, Arts & Creative Industries
E. Rumble, Coordinator, Arts & Creative Industry
K. Varin, Committee Administrator
K. Leasa, Design & Development, Parks & Cemeteries
M. MacKinnon, Parks Engagement Liaison, Parks & Cemeteries
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1. Commencement
The Arts and Culture Advisory Committee held a meeting this date commencing
at 4:07 p.m.
1.1 Acceptance of agenda
Accepted on motion by N. Stretch, seconded by A. Mehta.
1.2 Acceptance of May minutes
Accepted on motion by S. Wilson, seconded by R. Labrie.
2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
None.
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3.Delegations
None.
4.Presentations
4.1 Victoria Park Master Plan: Karen Leasa, Landscape Architect, Design &
Development, Parks & Cemeteries
City of Kitchener Parks staff supported by Dillon Consulting, are developing a
Master Plan as an update to previous strategic planning for Victoria Park. This
ten-year vision is helping to shape the future of the park for its users. It allows for
the community to provide feedback which will inform a set of recommendations. It
is not a plan for a full re-design of the park, rather a plan to support maintenance
and upgrades on a smaller scale.
The process is taking place in three phases: phase one which has been
completed and included an inventory assessment, data collection and analysis
has been completed; phase two, engaging the community and envisioning, which
is currently happening and the third phase will be the actual masterplan
development.
Highlights from phase one findings include the need for accessible seating
provisions, pathway repairs and widening, cohesive family site furnishings,
improved wayfinding signage and recognizing areas with lighting gaps,
Staff from the project team asked committee members for their input in identifying
opportunities and challenges through a public art lens. They asked committee
members to consider the four main themes explored in the Plan: connectivity,
growth, natural systems and community.
Member feedback included:
- potential for quicker turnaround for permits
- potential for future pedestrianization of Jubilee Drive
- wayfinding is a challenge starting from the ION stops
- wider pathways are desirable
- intersection at David Street has unsafe visibility lines for cyclists
- identifying more opportunities for art installations/placemaking, pollinator
gardens and a permanent site that could facilitate easier temporary art
installation, such as a dedicated pad or a wall
- placemaking: pockets/groupings of seating are desirable
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-site furnishings with more functionality and aesthetic appeal potentially resulting
from artistic intervention
- using more areas of the Park, especially the back areas, for intimate event
hosting
The city is also conducting separate processes apart from this Master Plan to
more deeply explore siting a permanent Indigenous space and an installation to
balance the ongoing presence of the Queen Victoria statue.
Members can visit engagewer.ca/victoriaparkmp to learn more.
5. Discussion Items
5.1 KIRC proposed public art commission: Elin Moorlag, Manager, Service
Coordination & Improvement, Community Services Department
The two-stage call for proposals launched in August 2024. The jury chose four
finalists from 28 submissions and asked those artists to submit more detailed
concepts for a suspended art installation for the main lobby and one artist for a
tile artwork for the aquatics centre. The stage-two proposals were reviewed by
the jury in May of 2025. The jury found a lack of suitable proposals that fell within
the parameters of the competition for the main lobby, thus terminating this
process.
However, the jury did find the tile proposal submitted by the fourth artist for the
aquatic centre, to be an exceptional and fitting piece for the facility and
recommended allocating the public art commission funds for this artwork.
The selected artwork proposal is entitled Gidinawendimin by Anishinaabe artist
Jackie Traverse. Covering a 95 square meter space, the work will be comprised
of mosaic tiles capturing the theme of women and water. The jury stated that the
piece has incredible artistic appeal, and is a fitting, durable and practical choice
for the facility, requiring very little ongoing maintenance.
ACAC members responded favourably to the commission choice.
On a motion made by M. Lam, seconded by N. Stretch, members voted
unanimously:
'That ACAC endorse the jury selection of the artist, Jackie Traverse, represented
by Highness Global Inc., and their proposed artwork, Gidinawenddimin, for the
Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex.'
6. Adjournment
On motion, this meeting adjourned at 5:57 p.m.
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Karoline Varin
Committee Administrator
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