HALTON HILLS EARNS TOP NATIONAL HONOURS AS CULTURE DAYS MARKS 10TH ANNIVERSARY
Town ranks first among small municipalities and third overall in Canada for community participation
HALTON HILLS, ON – Halton Hills has once again received national recognition for its commitment to arts and culture, ranking first among small municipalities in the 2025 Culture Days national rankings for the second consecutive year. The Town also placed third overall in Canada for community participation, highlighting strong local engagement in one of the country’s largest cultural festivals.
The recognition comes as Halton Hills celebrated a milestone 10th anniversary of Culture Days, delivering more than 200 free and by-donation activities, welcoming 11,630 participants, and showcasing the work of over 350 local and regional artists throughout the community.
“Culture Days demonstrates what makes Halton Hills such a vibrant and connected community,” said Mayor Ann Lawlor. “The creativity and collaboration of our artists, volunteers, partners, and residents is truly inspiring. These national results reflect a community that values culture.”
Provincial Recognition for Regional Collaboration
In addition to national accolades, Halton Hills also received provincial recognition through the Ontario Culture Days Spotlight Awards. Working in partnership with Oakville, Milton, Burlington and Halton Region, the Town earned Best Collaborative Program honours.
The project Threads of Tradition, led by artist Rafia Shafiq, claimed first place in the category, while the Glen Williams Bicentennial Festival was recognized as Runner-Up, further highlighting the strength of cross-municipal cultural collaboration in Halton Region.
Culture Days Across Canada
Culture Days is an annual national celebration that invites the public to participate in arts and cultural experiences through free and by-donation programming. In 2025, an estimated 9.5 million participants took part in Culture Days events across 350 communities nationwide, with programming offered in more than 40 languages.
Town officials say the continued success of Culture Days in Halton Hills reflects long-term investment in local artists, volunteers and cultural organizations, as well as strong public interest in accessible arts programming.
Residents interested in learning more or getting involved in planning for Culture Days 2026 can visit haltonhills.ca/culturedays.
Source: Town of Halton Hills, Culture Days Announcement (December 15, 2025)
Follow GTA Today on social media for more local news and updates. #GTAToday
