It was after midnight as I was writing this.

After spending the day working through Norfolk County's 585-page Council agenda, I thought I was finally ready for bed.

Instead, my mind kept bouncing from one agenda item to the next.

The 2027 budget outlook. Financial statements. Water and wastewater. Development charges. Heritage. Capital projects.

Every time I thought I had settled on the next article I wanted to write, another topic came to mind.

Eventually I landed on the proposed Culture Master Plan.

My first reaction was probably what many people would expect from someone with my background in business, finance and technology.

Do we really need to spend up to $150,000 on another plan that could end up sitting on a shelf?

Then my thoughts drifted back to my recent visit to the Norfolk Arts Centre. Earlier that evening I had also seen a discussion about Robert Bateman not being included on a list recognizing Canada's greatest artists. His brother, Ross Bateman, was my art teacher at Valley Heights for four years, and I had the opportunity to meet Robert on a few occasions.

It made me stop and think.

What exactly is culture in Norfolk County?

Is it our museums? Our art galleries? Our theatres?

Yes.

But it's also so much more.

  • Norfolk County Fair & Horse Show
  • Friday the 13th in Port Dover
  • Norfolk Pro Rodeo
  • Pottahawk Pissup
  • Shop the Shore
  • Simcoe Friendship Festival
  • Music & Murals
  • Dog's Nest 1851
  • Waterford Pumpkinfest
  • Delhi Tobacco Festival
  • Our farmers' markets
  • Our historical societies
  • Our local artists and musicians
  • Our volunteers
  • Our downtown businesses

And then it hit me.

These aren't separate things. They're all part of the same story.

So instead of asking whether we need another master plan, maybe we should be asking a different question.

How do we help all of these organizations work together?

One thing I've learned through more than thirty years in technology is that connecting people often creates more value than creating another report.

That brings me to another question.

Do we really need to hire an outside consultant to interview County staff, museum curators, volunteers, artists, festival organizers and business owners... when those people are already our greatest experts?

Our greatest cultural asset isn't a consultant.

It's the people who dedicate thousands of volunteer hours every year making these events happen.

Instead of asking someone from outside Norfolk County to tell us what culture means here, why not bring those people together and ask one simple question:

"How can Norfolk County help you succeed?"

Maybe the answer isn't another report.

Maybe it's better coordination. Better marketing. Better use of technology.

Imagine one county-wide events platform. One website. One mobile app. One shared calendar where every festival, theatre production, museum, gallery, farmers' market and community event is listed.

Imagine arriving in Norfolk for Friday the 13th and scanning a QR code.

Instead of simply finding motorcycle information, it welcomes you to Norfolk County.

While you're here...

  • Visit the Norfolk Pro Rodeo.
  • See a performance at Lighthouse Festival Theatre.
  • Explore Shop the Shore.
  • Enjoy one of our restaurants.
  • Visit one of our museums.
  • Discover a local winery or brewery.

Before heading home, the app could encourage visitors to leave Google reviews, share their experience and discover what's happening the next time they visit Norfolk County.

Now imagine every organization sharing the same calendar. Sharing volunteers. Sharing sponsorship opportunities. Sharing grant opportunities. Promoting each other's events instead of competing for attention.

That isn't just culture.

That's economic development. That's tourism. That's supporting our downtowns. That's helping local businesses.

Technology shouldn't replace the people who make Norfolk County special. It should help connect them.

When I first saw the proposed Culture Master Plan, I thought this article was going to be about whether we should spend $150,000.

Now I think it's about something much bigger.

Norfolk County doesn't need someone to tell us that we have incredible cultural assets. We already know that.

What we need is a better way to connect them, promote them and help them succeed together.

Culture isn't something government creates. It's something our communities create every single day.

Government's role is to help those communities thrive.

A Better Norfolk starts by making the most of the incredible people, organizations and communities we already have.