SUNDRE – For the second time in a row, Sundre ended up under the national spotlight in recognition of being among Canada's top participating communities in Culture Days.
The municipality was ranked eighth out of 10 in the category of towns and rural areas from across the entire country. The top-three spots went to Centre Wellington, the Township of Scugog, and Gananoque – all municipalities in Ontario – respectively.
Other categories included Overall, Urban Centres, Mid-size Cities as well as Small Municipalities.
"Culture Days congratulates Sundre for ranking eighth among Towns and Rural Areas, with an impressive 30-plus events organized for the 2024 celebrations," reads part correspondence the municipality received from Shannon Bowler, executive director of Culture Days National.
“This recognition affirms that Sundre is a community of active champions and supporters of local arts, culture and heritage initiatives,” Bowler wrote.
In 2024, hundreds of cities, towns and regions celebrated Culture Days and through a multitude of events attracted a record national audience estimated at five million people to more than 4,000 events.
- RELATED: Sundre museum hosts celebration of Alberta Culture Days
- RELATED: Culture Days participation earns Sundre top-10 spot in Canada
Alberta Culture Days is the province’s month-long celebration of arts, heritage, diversity and community spirit, in September hosted by community organizations. It is an opportunity for all Albertans to discover, experience and celebrate arts and culture by attending or hosting local events and activities across the province.
Last year, around 215,000 Albertans attended events at communities across the province. More than 59 communities hosted events to increase awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of Albertans in the arts and cultural life of their communities.
Sundre council unanimously carried a motion during the Dec. 16 meeting congratulating the Sundre and District Historical Society's board members as well as the museum's staff, volunteers, cultural leaders, artists and everybody who contributed to this year's repeat success.
The society hosted music, art and Indigenous programming throughout a weekend in September.
Coun. Jaime Marr acknowledged the effort that goes into successfully applying for grant funding to put on the event.
"They've done it twice," said Marr. "I cheer that museum on."
Mayor Richard Warnock shared a similar sentiment, adding that ranking among the top 10 out the hundreds of others throughout not only Alberta but Canada is "quite a feat."
Next year's 16th annual Culture Days celebrations are scheduled to run between September 19 to October 12.
Financial support for Culture Days is provided by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Canada Council for the Arts.
