By: Christian Collington, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TheIFP.ca
The Town of Halton Hills has secured the top spot in the national Culture Days rankings for “Small Municipalities” for the second consecutive year.
The 2025 season was a milestone for the community, marking a decade of participation in the annual festival.
This year, the town did not just lead its category; it climbed to third place overall in Canada for community participation.
Throughout the festival, the town hosted more than 200 free and by-donation activities.
These events drew in 11,630 participants and provided a platform for more than 350 local and regional artists to showcase their talents.
In a Dec. 15 news release, Mayor Ann Lawlor said “Culture Days demonstrates what makes Halton Hills such a vibrant and connected community.”
She added that “these national results reflect a community that values culture.”
The town’s success extended to the provincial stage through the Ontario Culture Days Spotlight Awards.
Halton Hills took home top honours in the “Best Collaborative Program” category for the project Threads of Tradition.
The initiative was a joint effort between the municipalities of Oakville, Milton, Burlington and Halton Region, led by artist Rafia Shafiq.
Adding to the town’s accolades, the Glen Williams Bicentennial Festival was recognized as a runner-up in the same category.
The success in Halton Hills mirrors a massive surge in cultural interest across the country.
In 2025, Culture Days saw an estimated record 9.5 million participants across 350 Canadian communities.
The festival featured programming in more than 40 languages for the public.
Residents, artists and volunteers interested in helping shape the 2026 celebration are encouraged to get involved by visiting the town’s website.
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