Action Plan
Arts & Culture
Arts and culture are an integral part of growth and vibrancy of any community. Arts and culture are key components of quality of life, and important contributors to urban economies as well.
From past experience and research, I have found that arts and cultural employment is one of three key drivers of urban economies—alongside health science/technology and business/education occupations. Public art helps to animate a city!
Partnerships to Support the Arts:
As a long time supporter of the arts and an amateur musician, I admire and appreciate all the numerous volunteers in our community who support arts and culture in our community. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues on City Council who will want to improve the state of culture and arts in our community which includes providing artists of all levels more creative freedom. I am excited to see the opening of the Revelry Food and Music Hub next to the Kelowna Actors Studio on Ellis Street and the 6000 square feet of common arts space to be constructed on Doyle Ave. Also, I encourage more private/public partnerships that support, enhance and fund community programs as well as modernize our facilities. This includes the strong community desire to build a new Performing Arts Centre. For more information on how you can support the movement for a new performing arts centre in Downtown Kelowna please click here.
Like culture and art, parks and recreation along with leisure and sports activities are often cited by Kelowna citizens as important factors in helping to make our community more livable. We need to reevaluate parkland requirements to better correlate development funds with the amount of land owned. I will continue to support and enhance programs and services that improve the health and well-being of individuals and families of all ages, that contribute to the empowerment of individuals and promote the development of inclusive communities.