Item - 2022.EC31.23

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council approve the Toronto History Museums Strategic Plan: Laying a New Foundation contained in Attachment 1 to the report (June 20, 2022) from the Interim General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, as a framework for continuing to advance reconciliation, equity and inclusion at the City's Toronto History Museums.

2. City Council authorize the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to negotiate and execute, on behalf of the City, programming, collaboration and license agreements (for the use of museum space), including any amendment, renewal or extension agreements and any ancillary documents  (each with a value of up to $500,000) with other non-profit organizations or artists to undertake activities to advance the goals identified in the Toronto History Museums Strategic Plan: Laying a New Foundation as presented in Attachment 1 to the report (June 20, 2022) from the Interim General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, on such content, terms, and conditions deemed necessary by the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

3. City Council authorize the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer as appropriate, to apply for, receive funds and to negotiate, enter into and execute any agreements, including any amendment, renewal or extension agreements and any ancillary documents (with a value of up to $500,000) with the Government of Canada, Government of Ontario and/or agencies of the federal and provincial governments to support the Toronto History Museums Strategic Plan: Laying a New Foundation identified in Attachment 1 to the report (June 20, 2022) from the Interim General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

This staff report provides an overview of the implementation of a strategic vision at Toronto History Museums to advance reconciliation, equity and inclusion and counter anti-Black racism as outlined in the Toronto History Museums Strategic Plan: Laying a New Foundation contained in Attachment 1. The vision's goals include working towards decolonization, creating inclusive community spaces, sharing stories from multiple perspectives, providing equitable access, building sustainability, and championing the creation of a Museum of Toronto.

The report highlights a number of initiatives that have been undertaken to move Toronto History Museums' visionary strategy and goals forward, including: establishing program advisory groups made up of members from Indigenous, Black and equity-deserving communities; the Lieutenant Governor award-winning Awakenings program that explores history and meaning through the eyes of Indigenous, Black and racialized artists; making general admission to all ten Toronto History Museums free and standardizing their operating hours; digitizing the historical collections to make them more accessible; starting on a process to co-create an Indigenous Collections Management Strategy for the City of Toronto's historical collections; and launching HistoricTO walking tours to engage the public in a dialogue about local histories that intentionally contests the usual, dominant narrative.

This visionary direction seeks to breathe new life into Toronto's ten history museums, in both virtual and real space, to promote individual and collective healing in order to transform them into places that foster trust, empathy, belonging and understanding.