What does “culture” mean to you? For some, it’s concerts, festivals, art exhibitions, or cultural celebrations. For others, it’s movies, performances, libraries, community gatherings, or historic sites. However you define it - your experiences, traditions, and ideas all matter.

The City of Oshawa is creating a new Culture Plan to guide cultural policy, programs, and services for the next 10 years.

Our last plan, Culture Counts: Oshawa’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Plan, was launched in 2014 - and it’s time for a refresh that reflects Oshawa’s growing and changing community.

To support this work, we’ve partnered with Extra Cardamom, a boutique consulting collective known for thoughtful and values-driven collaborations.

Community members jumped right into shaping Oshawa’s new Culture Plan, contributing ideas, experiences, and bold visions for the city’s cultural future. They shared their input in several ways:

• Completing the online feedback form
• Adding their favourite cultural spaces to the Culture Map
• Connecting with City staff at pop‑up events
• Using the community conversation toolkit
• Participating in focus groups

Stay tuned for updates in early 2026!

Community members were invited to share their feedback to help guide the future of arts, heritage and cultural development in Oshawa. Feedback was received from November 4 to December 15, 2025.

Culture lives in the places, stories, and experiences that shape our lives. The Culture Map invited community members to mark where culture matters most to them - by placing a pin, naming the spot, and sharing why it's meaningful.

City staff hosted a number of pop-up events to meet community members where they were, including:

• November 14 - Bright & Merry Market
• November 17 - Ontario Tech University at Charles Hall
• November 18 - Ontario Tech University at North Campus
• November 19 - Delpark Homes Centre
• November 22 - Oshawa YMCA
• November 24 - OSCC 55+ at Northview Branch
• November 25 - Durham College at The Pit
• November 28 - Oshawa Firewolves Home Opener
• November 29 - Donevan Recreation Complex

Every story, idea and dream helps us understand what makes Oshawa special and how we can make it even better. Community members were invited to download the Community Conversation Toolkit and have a discussion within their organization, non-profit or collective.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our completed sessions.

• October 16 - Literary Arts and Visual Arts
• October 27 - Creative Industries
• October 28 - Heritage, History and Environment
• October 30 - Music and Performing Arts
• November 20 - Public Virtual Session