Cultivating Rural Creativity in Prince Edward County (original) (raw)

Prince Edward County (PEC), a single-tier municipality in south-eastern Ontario, is a rural agricultural county rich in cultural and natural heritage. In recent times, the County has undergone a major shift from traditional ‘milk and meat’ agriculture toward new forms of agriculture reflective of the emerging ‘creative economy’. Culinary and rural tourism, winemaking, artisanal industries, organic, specialty and small farms, as well as other on-farm innovations are now redefining the economy of the region. In response to these shifting trends, Prince Edward County’s Economic Development and Planning Departments have adopted a Creative Rural Economy strategy designed to maximize the County’s economic, environmental, social and creative capital. The Official Plan of Prince Edward County has not kept pace with the changes underway in the County and is currently under review. The studio group has worked with the County to identify, analyze and provide recommendations leading to a more favourable environment for creative industries and agriculture in the county, while retaining the unique rural character that defines Prince Edward County. Authors: Angela Bepple, Katherine Glowacz, Ellise Goarley, Gregory Kuenzig, Johnson Kwan, Peter Moskalyk, Sana Razvi, and Garrett Von Aderkas.