Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan - Perth County

Figure 17 – Businesses in Arts, Culture and Tourism Sector, Perth, St. Marys and Stratford, 2003-2009Increase/ % Increase/Sub-Industry 2009 2003 Decrease Decrease511 Publishing Industres (except Internet) 11 12 -1 -8.3%512 Motion picture and sound recordingindustries 27 13 14 107.7%711 Performing arts, spectator sports andrelated industries 105 110 -5 -4.5%712 Heritage institutions 2 2 0 0.0%713 Amusement, gambling and recreationindustries 39 28 11 39.3%721 Accommodation services 67 76 -9 -11.8%722 Food services and drinking places 172 187 -15 -8.0%Total 423 428 -5 -1.2%Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Business Patterns Data, 2003, 2009.An estimated 4,385 residents that make up the region`s Arts, Culture and Tourism Sector 8 . Nearly twothirds(64.5%) of this industry is comprised of people employed in accommodation and food servicesoccupations (2,830) followed by a quarter (25.8%) of the industry employed in arts, entertainment andrecreation occupations (1,130). The majority of the people are employed in sales and serviceoccupations (2,700), followed by occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport (655).Accommodation and food services – Of the 2,830 residents in accommodation and food services, 2,370of them are employed in sales and service occupations. There were 590 people serving as chefs andcooks. Many of the 2,370 people would be employed as waiters and other occupations typical to thisindustry. A total of 385 people serve management roles in this industry.Arts, entertainment and recreation – Of the 1,130 residents in arts, entertainment and recreation, half(555) of residents have occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport. More specifically, there were 310people employed in technical occupations and 240 people employed in professional occupations. Therewere also 275 residents employed in sales and service occupations.Information and cultural industries – Of the 425 residents in information and cultural industries, 110people are employed in business, finance and administrative occupations, followed by 85 peopleemployed in art, culture, recreation and sport occupations.Digital Media CentreIn March 2008, the University of Waterloo (UW), City of Stratford, Province of Ontario and Open TextCorporation announced the establishment of a Stratford Institute for digital media and global business.The investment by these organizations will allow UW to create the Open Text Centre for Digital MediaResearch. The centre will see researchers and students from around the world immersed in digital mediaapplications and will forge a path for commercialization efforts in this sector8This analysis includes all sub-industries (515 – Broadcasting (except Internet), 516 – Internet Publishing, 517 –Telecommunications, 518 – Internet Service Providers and 519 – Other Information services) in Information and cultural industries,which the previous tables did not include.Perth, St. Marys and Stratford Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan 46 | P age