Minto Cultural Roundtable
Minto Cultural Roundtable
The Minto Cultural Roundtable provides strategic direction and key decision-making on on-going cultural development and implements projects and tasks related to the Cultural Plan.
Principles that guide the work of the Cultural Roundtable include:
- Inclusive engagement – engaging citizens in ways that cross boundaries and builds shared understanding and empathy.
- Valuing grassroots – celebrating the energy and capacity of the community at the grassroots level.
- Emergence and purpose – balancing a commitment to dialogue that generates new understandings and builds relationships, with advancing concrete plans and actions.
- Asset Based Approach - appreciating and mobilizing individual and community talents, skills and assets (rather than focusing on problems and needs).
The mandate of the Minto Cultural Roundtable is to give guidance and input related to culture and to implement the Cultural Plan for Minto
It does this by:
- Supporting community-led solutions to issues identified by the Roundtable or the community at large.
- Encouraging leadership and innovation.
- Facilitating networking and information exchange.
- Serving as a sounding board for ideas and actions.
- Reviewing policies related to culture.
- Supporting the integration of cultural development plans into related Town plans
(i.e. Official Plan and Strategic Plan)
The Minto Cultural Roundtable shall consist of 15 - 17 members appointed by Resolution of Council. This membership shall be comprised of:
- Two members of Council
- One member appointed by the Minto Arts Council
- One member appointed by the Grey Wellington Theatre Guild and/or the Norgan Theatre Board
- One member appointed by the Harriston Historical Society and/or the Palmerston Railway Heritage Museum.
- One member appointed by the Harriston-Minto and/or the Palmerston Agricultural Society and/or the Minto Farmers’ Market
- One member appointed by the Minto Chamber of Commerce
- One member representing the County of Wellington Museum, Archives and Libraries
- One member representing Youth (Age 15 – 24)
- One member representing Seniors (55+)
- One member representing the education system
- Four to Seven members of the public (preference will be given to cultural representatives)
Staff Resources:
- Director of Economic & Community Development
- Marketing & Community Development Coordinator
- Treasurer
- Community Services Representative (as needed)
Other Resources:
- Ministry of Tourism & Culture Regional Advisor
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) sub-committee is currently seeking new members! The committee works with the Town of Minto on matters related to diversity, equity, and inclusion to ensure Minto lives up to its commitment to be a welcoming and inclusive rural community.
To the greatest extent possible, members from the community will represent a broad range of under-served and equity seeking groups such as but not limited to:
- Indigenous peoples
- LGBTQ2S+
- Newcomers, new Canadians
- Persons living in poverty
- Persons with disabilities
- Racialized people, people of diverse ethnic or cultural origin
- Seniors
- Women
- Youth
- 3-5 Community Members working in allyship
- The Director of Economic & Community Development and the Marketing and Community Development Coordinator or their designates will attend all meetings.
Join the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.
Help us build a more inclusive community
Where Food Meets Kindness
A collaborative initiative between the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Minto Pride, and Clifford Connects Committees.
On Saturday, July 13th, 2024, the Town of Minto unveiled it's new Community Food Share Pantry, located in Clifford Rotary Celebration Square. This project aims to address food insecurity in our local area, and supplement the incredible efforts of our food banks. It does not act as a replacement for a Food Bank, but instead will help those who need to fill the gap between visits.
The pantry operates on a Leave What You Can, Take What You Need policy, where the community comes together to support each other. Everyone is welcome to give or take 24/7, no questions asked.
This project is dedicated in the memory of the late Michael Martin who spearheaded the pantry with his passion and commitment to ensuring food security for all Minto residents.
How it works:
Anyone can donate to the pantry 24/7. We ask that all items are non-perishable. Items to donate include: dried or canned beans, nut butters, dried or canned fruits and vegetables, canned fish & chicken, nuts & seeds, jerky, honey, syrup, granola & protein bars, dried or canned soup, freeze dried meals, noodles, crackers, jams & jellies, powdered milk, cereal, and bottled water.
What are currently seeking volunteers who can keep an eye on the pantry to ensure the food items are safe to consume. Before consuming food on the pantry, please thoroughly inspect the item.
If you notice an issue or are interested in volunteering, please contact Belinda Wick Graham at 519-338-2511 ext. 241 or belinda@town.minto.on.ca
The Artwork
The Artwork on the Pantry, sponsored by Minto Pride and Clifford Connects, was completed by local Norwell DSS student Shayne Lamont.
A message from Shayne:
"For the project of creating a piece of art to complement the new Clifford food pantry, I initially was inspired by the magical ability Food has, bringing people together and creating a sense of community. No matter our differences as people, everyone eats. It’s the one universal thing which all humans have in common and can relate to. I wanted to display the loving and wholesome environment created from sharing food with one another. In my drafts for this piece, I have assembled people from all walks of life gathering and bonding over a meal. To show that our differences become obsolete when faced with the common interest of nutrition and hunger satisfaction. Every little part of the potential peace will represent diversity. From the butterflies with pride flags on their wings, to the different types of food belonging to multiple cultures, and much more. I want the piece to truly celebrate the notion that everyone belongs, especially in the world of food. There are also many specific details spread throughout the art which are specific to the township of Minto and Canada. All four of the compositions have landmarks representing Clifford, Harrison, and Palmerston. (The Clifford water tower, Downtown Harrison, and the Palmerston Bridge) -The fourth one represents Minto as a whole. Over all showing appreciation for the rural environment, farming industry, and historical sites which are apart of the Minto township. One of the main components of the whole design is the food rainbow inspired by the past Canadian food guide. This is not only important for connecting the four pictures to each other and keeping the flow of the art alive, but it also complements the characters as they interact with the food. Helping to support the idea of the food pantry as a welcoming experience." ~Shayne Lamont, 2024
Minto Pride Committee
Minto Pride was founded in 2019 as a sub-committee of the Cultural Roundtable.
Run by a small group of volunteers, Minto Pride encourages inclusion, and increases visibility, of the LGBTQ2S+ community in the Town of Minto, while promoting education on the diversity of gender, sex and sexual identity.
Harriston, Palmerston, and Clifford are diverse and growing communities in Minto. We strive to bring people from a variety of walks of life together to create a shared society where there is room to learn from, socialize with, and get to know each other.
We celebrate Pride by holding events and advocating for the LGBTQ2S+ community. Past events have included our annual Pride in Park event in June, Drag nights, Socials, Trivia nights, and more.
Since the creation of our group we've successfully advocated for the Pride flag to be flown at Town Hall during June, a presentation to Council on the importance of Pride, as well as the approval for a rainbow crosswalk in Harriston.
These are small steps on the rural road of equity that lead to making Minto a place where all families want to belong.
Do you want to stay up to date on our events and happenings? Get in contact, or simply show your support? You can find us on Facebook and Instagram @mintopride, or email us at mintopridecommitte@gmail.com.
