Over 250 people gathered at the annual ‘We are Calderdale’ event in Halifax to celebrate 50 years of the borough of Calderdale, the realisation of Vision 2024, the ambitions for 2024 and beyond, and Calderdale’s Year of Culture.
On Thursday 13 June, the Council held one of its biggest events of the year at Dean Clough in Halifax.
The 2024 ‘We are Calderdale’ event celebrated the borough’s 50th anniversary and the culmination of the Vision 2024 for the borough.
In 2018, the Council and communities launched the Vision 2024 for Calderdale, based on the area’s key qualities – distinctiveness, kindness, resilience, enterprise and talent.
Since then, ‘We are Calderdale’ events have brought together people and organisations from across the borough. This year’s event was a mixture of reflection and looking towards making Calderdale an even better place where everyone can live a larger life. The Council’s Chief Executive, Robin Tuddenham spoke about what has been achieved since the launch of Vision 2024, as well as ambitions for the future.
The event featured a series of performances to celebrate the borough’s Year of Culture. This included a piece by Performing Arts students from Trinity Sixth Form College called a ‘Snapshot in time’. This was inspired by archive material from each of the decades of the borough’s 50 years, performed on specially designed podium stages which were made by students from Calderdale College.
There were also performances reflecting Calderdale’s diverse communities, including traditional Indian dance from Halifax-based Annapurna, the Parkinson Lane Community Primary School dancers and music from the local ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) choir which was formed by Ukrainian students based at Calderdale College.
The event was also a chance to catch up with the Vision Babies. In 2018, parents with young babies volunteered to take part in an exciting project based around ‘50 things to do before you’re five’(external link) activities. Now the children are all grown up, their experiences of life in Calderdale were shared in a special film.
Calderdale Council’s Chief Executive, Robin Tuddenham, said:
“The 2024 We Are Calderdale event was a remarkable occasion where we were able to mark 50 years since Calderdale was formed in 1974. The event was full of wonderful moments reflecting Calderdale’s rich history, incredible people, creativity and diversity, with inspiring and touching performances, stories and films.
“Culture has played a big part in Calderdale’s history and the borough’s 50th anniversary. A wide range of cultural partners took part in the We Are Calderdale event, showcasing a snapshot of CultureDale.
“The event was an opportunity to reflect on the Vision 2024, and look forward to the transition to the new Vision 2034, as we continue to be bold and ambitious about what we can do next to make Calderdale a better place.”
Calderdale reached its 50th anniversary on 1 April 2024. This is the ultimate year for the Vision 2024 for Calderdale. Find out more about it here: www.calderdale.gov.uk/vision
As part of the 50th birthday celebrations, the borough is hosting a Year of Culture which is bringing iconic events, festivals, exhibitions, performances and initiatives across the borough for all from April 2024 to April 2025. Find out more at www.culturedale.co.uk(external link).ENDS