Brampton City Council, in its 2011 Budget, renewed its commitment to HACE with a five-year economic development plan to pursue and promote the development of a creative economy in the city. The initiative focuses on the heritage, arts, cultural and entertainment potential of our downtown.

Vision: By 2016 the creative economy, through heritage, arts, culture and entertainment (HACE) industries, is a leading contributor to the economic vitality and image of Downtown Brampton as the creative centre of the City.

“The key to Brampton’s continued economic success lies in maintaining an entrepreneurial environment where business is consistently able to compete, grow and thrive,” said Mayor Susan Fennell in her address last month to the Brampton Board of Trade. “The HACE plan is an important step to jump-start our local creative economy.”

According to the Martin Institute, a creative economy is driven by ideas, innovation, knowledge, collaboration and creativity. This economy employs people who are paid to think and they work within all sectors of the economy. It is estimated that approximately 40 per cent of the new jobs created in Ontario by 2016 will be in the creative economy.