Prince Albert’s cultural identity was on people’s minds Friday afternoon as residents were invited to speak up about how to strengthen the arts and heritage scene.
Suggestions from the City of Prince Albert cultural planning will eventually form part of the city’s official community plan.
Amanda Parenteau helps homeless people and immigrants at the YWCA, and said she sees a connection between culture and the struggles her clients face.
“Culture’s a part of people’s identity, it’s a part of who they are. And if you lose part of that then you lose a piece of who you are, so it’s harder to get up on your feet,” Parenteau said.
To her, by strengthening the culture within the community helps – and affects – everyone.
“I think more people need to care about it,” she said. “Cultural awareness, cultural programming within the city affects everybody. Everybody has a culture, it’s not just First Nations, it’s not just immigrants coming into the community.”
The afternoon’s forum put people into groups to write about what the city has to offer on specific cultural fronts – from heritage, to business, to food – and to brainstorm what could enhance that in the future.
Parenteau’s group said it would be great to see a full university in Prince Albert.
“For a lot of First Nations people that are coming down from the north they have to come to P.A. and that’s already leaving home so if they want to go to university, they may be looking at going to four-year university in Saskatoon, and that’s an even bigger transition and that’s such a cultural shock,” she said.
Forum suggestions included creating a monument recognizing the truth and reconciliation committee’s final report coming out.
Those speaking at the event said Prince Albert has been a central spot for people with diverse backgrounds since it first became a city.
Many groups agreed that the City’s future plans need to acknowledge the rich history of all its cultures, and feel the City needs to do more to acknowledge First Nations history.
The City of Prince Albert will accept more suggestions on its cultural future in a survey that’s set to go on its website later this month.
Once suggestions are in, the next step is prepare a cultural plan.
About 45 people came out for the event at Prince Albert’s Margo Fournier Center.