City of Thunder Bay recognized for arts, culture and heritage

The City of Thunder Bay has been recognized as the 5th-ranked mid-sized city across Canada on the national Culture Days 2024 Top Participating Communities List! This national accolade highlights the City’s dedication to fostering arts, culture, and heritage initiatives, placing Thunder Bay firmly on the map as a cultural hub.

Culture Days is a nationwide collaboration designed to increase access, participation, and appreciation for arts and culture. The City’s Recreation & Culture Division has been a driving force in championing local Culture Days celebrations by organizing events, encouraging community organizations to participate, collaborating with local partners, and promoting diverse cultural offerings to the public.

For 2024, Thunder Bay hosted an impressive 80+ Culture Days events and was showcased as a ‘Provincial Festival Hub’ by Culture Days Ontario. As part of this designation, the City hosted the local Culture Days launch event, Arts & Culture Under the Lights, and other high-quality arts and cultural programs.

Programming presented within the Thunder Bay Festival Hub for 2024 featured events including art activities hosted by the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, open house and tours at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, Celebrating Indigenous Culture & Honouring Truth and Reconciliation presented by Anishnawbe Mushkiki, behind-the-scenes tours and lectures at the Thunder Bay Museum, literary and art-based programming presented by Thunder Bay Public Library, performances at Cambrian Theatre and Magnus Theatre, workshops with All the DAZE Productions, Community Arts & Heritage Education Program’s Art of the Mushroom, French Language Cafe with Club Cultural Francophone de Thunder Bay, and many more!

“Being recognized on the Top Participating Communities List affirms Thunder Bay’s strong commitment to supporting arts, culture, and heritage,” said Kelly Robertson, Commissioner, Community Services. “This achievement reflects the incredible collaboration between our City staff, community partners, local artists, art professionals, historians and cultural experts. It is a testament to the passion and creativity that make Thunder Bay such a vibrant and inclusive community.”

Robertson also wanted to extend heartfelt gratitude to all participants, organizers, volunteers and partners whose hard work and creativity made this achievement possible.

Plans are underway for Culture Days 2025, taking place Sept. 19 to Oct. 12, 2025. For more information, visit: www.thunderbay.ca/culturedays

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