In late 2015, the Government of Ontario undertook consultations to help create the first Ontario Culture Strategy. The discussion guide and consultations failed to make mention of architecture and, generally, design.

The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA), Local Architectural Societies, Schools of Architecture, Design Community, and general public provided written submissions, tweeted, e-mailed, attended and even presented at town halls telling the Government of Ontario that it must recognize architecture and design in Ontario's first Culture Strategy.

Despite this significant outpouring of support, the OAA is disappointed that the first draft of Ontario's Culture Strategy still fails to integrate design in any meaningful way, nor does it even mention the word architecture.

Please sign this petition to tell the Government and Minister Coteau that architecture and design is an integral part of Ontario’s culture, and must be prominently integrated into Ontario's Culture Strategy.

After signing the petition, please also consider taking a minute to send a message to...

• The Consultation (culturetalks@ontario.ca​ | @ExploreON), and
• Minister Coteau (mcoteau.mpp@liberal.ola.org​ | @coteau)

...telling them that #ArchitectureMatters!

UPDATE:

Last Friday, May 13, 2016, the Ontario Association of Architects made an official submission to the Ministry regarding the draft Culture Strategy, including recommendations which would make the draft strategy more inclusive and recognize the role of architecture, and a copy of all comments on this petition to date.

The OAA's letter is one of many submissions made by the architecture and design community and its allies. To date we have received copies of letters by: Toronto Society of Architects, Hamilton/Burlington Society of Architects, Northern Ontario Society of Architects, Laurentian School of Architecture, University of Toronto's John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, Ryerson Unverity's Department of Architectural Science, Ontario Association of Landscape Architects, Royal Architecture Institute of Canada, Ontario Library Association. 

A copy of the letters can be found here.