Click here for the Progressive Conservative Party’s responses to the party survey.
Calgary-Acadia – Jonathan Denis
Calgary-Bow – Alana DeLong
Calgary-Buffalo – Jamie Lall
Calgary-Cross - Yvonne Fritz
Calgary-Currie – Christine Cusanelli
Calgary-East – Moe Amery
Calgary-Elbow – Alison Redford
Calgary-Fish Creek - Wendelin Fraser
Calgary-Foothills - Len Webber
Calgary-Fort – Wayne Cao
Calgary-Glenmore – Linda Johnson
Calgary-Greenway – Manmeet Bhullar
Calgary-Hawkwood – Jason Luan
Calgary-Hays – Ric McIver
Calgary-Klein – Kyle Fawcett
Calgary-Lougheed – Dave Rodney
Calgary-Mackay-Nose Hill – Neil Brown
Calgary-McCall – Muhammad Rasheed
Calgary-Mountainview – Cecilia Low
Calgary-Northern Hills – Teresa Woo-Paw
Calgary-North West – Sandra Jansen
Calgary-Shaw – Farouk Adatia
Calgary-South East – Rick Fraser
Calgary-Varsity – Donna Kennedy-Glans
Calgary-West – Ken Hughes
Calgary-East – Moe Amery
1. What has been your favourite experience with the arts in your constituency (or in Calgary)?
On International Avenue in my riding, there are a series of murals commemorating our history and the diversity of our area of the city. The first mural (at 3111 17th Avenue SE) by Eldon Walls depicts life in the old village of Forest Lawn. The second mural, entitled” Dance in the Minho”, by Marthino Correia (at 3245 17th Avenue SE) pays tribute to the Portugese settlers in Forest Lawn and Calgary. The third is “Tet Flower Fair” is by Thang Quinn Quoc Do (2889 17th Avenue SE) and is a tribute to Calgary’s vibrant Vietnamese community which has a strong cultural presence in Forest Lawn through their churches, temples and of course the well known Vietnamese restaurants in my riding. “Rhythms of the Caribbean,” by Carol Nelson-Melesko is at 3620 17th Avenue SE, and is of course a tribute to the Caribbean/West Indies community. The fifth mural is actually within the boundaries of our neighboring riding, Calgary-Fort, at 4015-17th Avenue SE, as is entitled “An Allegory of Peace in Our Time” and is by Marthino Correia (Also the artist who painted “Dance in the Minho”). Allegory is really a tribute to our capacity to celebrate our diversity and leave in peace.
Also, I would be remiss not to draw your attention to Global Fest, held in my riding and in adjacent ones every year. Among the many GlobalFest events that promote the arts are cultural music and dancing.
Plus the ever popular “Movies on the Avenue” (also on our International Avenue) where we all get to view films from different countries around the world as well as Canada.
2. What do you value most about the arts?
The Arts bring meaning into our lives and help shake up the montony of our daily routines. Calgarians are very fortunate that our city is blessed with so many truly gifted artists.
3. What do you think is the greatest need regarding the arts in your constituency? How do you plan to address this need?
My riding is the home to many struggling artists. I would like to see more projects like the Murals project on !7th Avenue SE. The artists who created those great works of art were funded and compensated for their time and skill by a partnership of government and business–funding came from the Province, including the Lotteries Fund, the City, private businesses and private citizens, as well as business groups like “the International Avenue merchants.”
4. Any other comments?
We are looking forward to the future construction of the International Arts and Cultural Center along 17th Avenue in my riding that will promote tolerance, peace and diversity through the arts and inter-cultural appreciation and understanding.
Calgary-Elbow – Alison Redford
1. What has been your favourite experience with the arts in your constituency (or in Calgary)?
Calgary has such a vibrant arts scene, so much to see and do. I love being able to take my daughter Sarah to different events, from the Nutcracker at Alberta Ballet to Decidedly Jazz to the Young Canadians and the Grandstand Show. I also love museums and as Sarah loves to paint, we like to explore the Glenbow Museum and art galleries together.
2. What do you value most about the arts?
The arts give everyone an opportunity to express themselves. We all have our own story to tell and the arts allow each of us to create our own narrative.
3. What do you think is the greatest need regarding the arts in your constituency? How do you plan to address this need?
I would like families and communities to celebrate art and for art to be an integral part of communities. We have talent in all regions of our province and it should be encouraged and celebrated. As Justice Minister, I was involved with the Calgary Stampede and the City of Calgary in providing space on the former Court House land in downtown Calgary for amazing sculptures by Joe Fafard. As Premier, I am keen to promote public art projects across Alberta.
I also strongly believe that the arts are an important component of the curriculum in our education system. By exposing Alberta youth to the arts during their school years, we can contribute to their future quality of life and their ability to compete in a diverse, global economy. My hope is that with three-year predictable funding for education, first introduced in our 2012 budget, school boards will be better able to plan arts programs to achieve these objectives.
4. Any other comments?
I am pleased with the great response to Culture Forum 2012 hosted by Culture and Community Services Minister Heather Klimchuk in February. It was attended by nearly 400 representatives of Alberta’s arts, heritage, multicultural, nonprofit/voluntary, creative industries and corporate sectors. An on-line survey of the public followed. I look forward to the final report and recommendations that will help government, the corporate community and the culture sector build a solid foundation for culture to prosper in our province.
Calgary-Fish Creek – Wendelin Fraser
1. What has been your favourite experience with the arts in your constituency (or in Calgary)?
I would say first, music has always been a constant in our family life from my earliest years, and I continue to be actively engaged in the many opportunities for musical events across the city.
There is no doubt that in our community the Parkland Summer Festival that has been held for 10 years now – a weekend festival over the summer solstice weekend – is one of the highlights of the year. In Parkland, the community comes together to offer music, arts and craft displays and sales, a parade of antique cars, and family games and activities. It reflects our vibrant community and illustrates how arts and music in bringing us together.
The June 2012 Parkland Summer Festival is already being planned, people are talking about the music, and the community is signing up to volunteer.
Throughout the year, our family enjoys the multitude of opportunities that Calgary affords – from our subscriptions to the Calgary Opera and CPO, to long time membership to the Glenbow Museum and Heritage Village to purchasing individual theatre tickets at the large and small venues across the city or taking in concerts or festivals that celebrate blues, jazz and/or the passions and talent of Calgary youth.
2. What do you value most about the arts?
I was fortunate enough to have been offered music lessons at a very early age and developed a deep relationship with music of all kinds. While not everyone is as fortunate, I am confident the arts enhance all of our lives. I have been privileged to have held positions which enabled me to ensure that music and art was included in the events or activities that I could organize.
Enjoying and supporting artists has always been important to me. Over my 11 years as the Dean at the Bissett School of Business I encouraged an appreciation of both music and art with our over 2,000 business students. Consequently, in 2010 I launched a Bissett Art Gallery to feature the artwork of established and emerging Alberta artists. Over a 2 year period we held an exhibition of original art every six weeks throughout the year. I have also worked to ensure a few of the amazing artists in Calgary Fish Creek also had an opportunity to display their work in the Bissett Art Gallery including Brenda Estill and Melanie Morstad.
I have included a link to a short article published by Mount Royal University on my efforts to try to bring more art into our building including the classrooms. This effort involved having the national juried exhibition of the Canadian Portrait Artist Association installed for a 6 week period in the Bissett School of Business.
In addition, I worked to encourage students of the Mount Royal Conservatory – as well as Conservatory Faculty – to be featured at our many events and functions from 2000 to 201. And I was proud that I partnered with the Mount Royal Conservatory to offer regular Concerts at Noon in the Bissett School of Business in a space open to Students and Staff of Mount Royal University.
None of this work is a recent interest. I was part of a group in the mid 1980s that partnered with the City, Province and Federal government in the renovation of the 45,000 old heritage Gault building in Winnipeg for 14 arts organizations. That work resulted in the creation of Artspace – a place that continues to function and encourage creation and collaboration among artists.
3. What do you think is the greatest need regarding the arts in your constituency? How do you plan to address this need?
I am blessed to be part of a constituency that has done much to foster art and artist development. I have mentioned the Parkland Summer Festival as an example, but art sales, local music clubs, live performance and of course our churches all are places where flourish, albeit on a smaller scale than higher density neighbourhoods would experience. These kinds of events and initiatives are part of what has attracted people to living in and staying in Calgary Fish Creek for decades.
Appreciation and enjoyment of art begins in childhood, and I would say that the greatest in our Fish Creek communities is to make sure that we are able to nurture the arts starting with our children’s education. The Save Our Fine Arts (SOFA) http://saveourfinearts.ca/) has been clear and effective in demonstrating the challenges that budding art students face and what is required, specialist teachers being an example. It will be one of my duties as an MLA, should I be successful, to advocate within the government to make sure our future artists are receiving the training they need while fostering an appreciation for the arts within the students who may not grow up to be artists themselves.
There is a tendency to look at the arts as an expensive luxury, but it is clearly a necessary foundation to our culture and who we are and who we wish to be. As the icing on the cake, but it really is a critical component of our society.
I believe most the people who live in Fish Creek understand this.
For over 30 years, I have been interested in the aspects of creating and fostering vibrant cities and communities – particularly since my work at the Institute for Urban Studies in Winnipeg. Some of my involvement in the arts is included in my public biographical information. Supporting and encouraging arts is an integral part of our life and our communities. As modest but live example of what I mean, I have partnered with the Studio 9 Music School in the Lake Bonavista Promenade Mall and we are having young musicians play at an event at which Premier Redford will be attending in our riding on April 4th.
Calgary-Glenmore – Linda Johnson
1. What has been your favourite experience with the arts in your constituency (or in Calgary)?
My personal favourite art experiences are the amateur productions at schools; churches and summer camps involving young people.
While I am fortunate to attend 5-6 major productions over the year at Jubilee or Jack Singer; it is the student productions that impress me the most.
2. What do you value most about the arts?
I value the imagination that is required for successful art to occur, from the concept to production to final presentation.
3. What do you think is the greatest need regarding the arts in your constituency? How do you plan to address this need?
Although not a regular issue raised at the doors, I know that the arts are well appreciated by the residents of Calgary-Glenmore.
Personally, I am a huge supporters of art –whether music, drama or visual – particularly in the school system.
4. Any other comments?
I believe introducing children at a young age to art creates the awareness to become life-long supporters.
Calgary-Hays – Ric McIver
1. What has been your favourite experience with the arts in your constituency (or in Calgary)?
Seeing music acts at the Deerfoot Inn and Casino.
2. What do you value most about the arts?
The arts are a chance to escape from the daily stresses and pressures of life.
3. What do you think is the greatest need regarding the arts in your constituency? How do you plan to address this need?
There is a lack of rehearsal and performance space. I will work with private sector developers to encourage them to provide space in their new developments for artistic rehearsal and performance.
Calgary-Mountainview – Cecilia Low
1. What has been your favourite experience with the arts in your constituency (or in Calgary)?
There are two arts events that have taken place in my constituency that stand out for me. The first was an art sale organized years ago by the board of our community play school to raise funds. Parents who were artists, whether in their spare time or full time, donated work. It was wonderful to discover the talent to be found in our own community. The second arts event that stands out for me was attending Alberta Ballet’s production of Love Lies Bleeding at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. I love contemporary ballet and Elton John: Jean Grand Maitre’s melding of the two was masterful. We are extremely lucky in Alberta to have such a phenomenal ballet company to call our own.
2. What do you value most about the arts?
I value the way the arts enrich our lives and the way the arts give us reason to pause and think about things in new and different ways.
3. What do you think is the greatest need regarding the arts in your constituency? How do you plan to address this need?
Calgary Mountain View is fortunate to be home to ACAD and the Southern Jubilee Auditorium as well as a myriad of smaller arts venues from dance schools to book stores that host poetry readings. I am not personally aware of any specific need regarding the arts in my constituency. I do believe that government should implement policies that enable the arts and artists to thrive and to engage people in the communities where they live and work.
Calgary-Northern Hills – Teresa Woo-Paw
1. What has been your favourite experience with the arts in your constituency (or in Calgary)?
I enjoy a wide variety of art forms found within the City of Calgary but I have to say the favourite experience is raising an artist ourselves over the past 25 years.
2. What do you value most about the arts?
It provides beauty, inspiration and entertainment. The arts nurtures the soul.
3. What do you think is the greatest need regarding the arts in your constituency? How do you plan to address this need?
Lack of community space is a key challenge in the constituency of Calgary Northern-Hills. I was successful in working with constituency based as well as sector stakeholders to access needed resources to conduct a feasibility study on a multi-purpose centre within the Constituency of Calgary Northern-Hills.
4. Any other comments?
Ensuring proper recognition, space and support for the expression of human imagination and creativity through the arts should be a shared responsibility among the community, public and private sectors. The development of the arts and culture is especially important in our economic driven city because it enhances the human side of social development.
Calgary-North West – Sandra Jansen
1. What has been your favourite experience with the arts in your constituency (or in Calgary)?
My favourite experience with the arts in Calgary-North West has been very personal. I like to consider myself an artist. This constituency, with its beautiful mountain views, constantly inspires me. I work with acrylic paint and have always loved playing a role in Alberta, and Calgary’s, artistic culture. I have donated around 65 paintings in the past 4 years to the United Way, Calgary Health Trust, CLERC and Safe Haven.
2. What do you value most about the arts?
I believe that the arts are essential to a strong community. A vibrant arts culture adds richness and character to the community and strongly contributes to our quality of life. I am a very strong believer that the arts contribute to the ways we interact with each other – it is for that reason I constantly encourage my daughter to express herself creatively. I look forward to watching her perform a lead role in her school in May.
3. What do you think is the greatest need regarding the arts in your constituency? How do you plan to address this need?
It is my priority to ensure Alberta continues to be a champion of the arts. I believe that the greatest need regarding arts in Calgary – North West is to continue to seek out new ideas to ensure Alberta’s cultural community is robust and sustainable for our families, visitors and investors. The Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) distributes about 1,200 grants each year that help support art and community organizations as well as emerging and professional artists. I want to ensure that the community organizations of Calgary-North West are taking advantage of grant opportunities. I will support and work with our constituency organizations; I want to assist them with the grant process but also in their long term budget planning to ensure grant monies awarded are used effectively. On a provincial scale, I will advocate that the Alberta government provide more stable, multi-year grant opportunities and more predictable accountability requirements for the government grants.
4. Any other comments?
Our Premier is a strong advocate for the arts. I support Premier Redford’s idea of creating tax incentives to support cultural endeavors.
Alberta provides more dollars to the arts than any other province or territory, except for Quebec and Ontario. We have a proud tradition of supporting the arts and it is my pledge to continue to push for greater promotion of arts and culture in our province.
Calgary-South East – Rick Fraser
1. What has been your favourite experience with the arts in your constituency (or in Calgary)?
2. What do you value most about the arts?
I’ll answer questions one and two together. As a family we have experienced productions such as Cirque du Soleil, Theatre Calgary, and the Glenbow Museum. My favorite experience – what I value the most – is being able to do those things as a family. We share our excitement of new experiences and have great family discussions about those experiences. The arts have enriched our family.
3. What do you think is the greatest need regarding the arts in your constituency? How do you plan to address this need?
Exposure and access is what our constituency needs. I plan to promote this by encouraging and sharing what those experiences have meant to my family. I will promote and sponsor the arts as a foundation of lasting and sustainable communities.
Calgary-Varsity – Donna Kennedy-Glans
As promised, artist Janice Tanton hosted a conversation at our campaign HQ on Saturday evening with people interested in arts & culture in Calgary-Varsity. Here’s some feedback and follow up, and learnings:
What is the role of government in arts & culture? The Alberta government is responsible to work with others to create the conditions for arts & culture voice to be heard. This can happen through a variety of means: financial support to individuals and organizations (e.g. Alberta Foundation for the Arts grants); public funding of infrastructure (e.g. building public libraries, Telus World of Science, the National Music Centre and Folk Hall); hosting and sponsorship of events (e.g. festivals); mandating inclusion of arts & culture in public education and curriculum.
Alberta’s Ministry of Culture and Community Services (http://culture.alberta.ca/) is responsible for creating the frameworks and policies to support these goals. And, working with others to create the conditions for the arts & culture voice to be heard can also happen at a more grassroots, constituency level, in Calgary-Varsity (or any community). In fact, this needs to happen top-down and bottom-up!
As a political candidate, why do I care about arts & culture in Calgary-Varsity?
- Arts and culture voice is one of the many voices we need to hear if we want to make good choices—I value diversity and pluralism, and so do others in Calgary-Varsity
- The creative voice is critical to innovation—and innovation is critical for our future
Where are the arts & culture voices in Calgary-Varsity?
Being at people’s doorsteps in Calgary-Varsity over the past five months has helped me build a better ‘map’ of the arts & culture voices in Calgary-Varsity. Certainly, there are many formal organizations and clubs– at the University of Calgary, local Sketch Clubs, dance troupes, etc.. And, there are individuals who play a role in supporting and/or contributing to arts and culture in Calgary-Varsity in less ‘official’ or formal capacities.
“Further mapping of the arts & culture community in Calgary-Varsity would be powerful. To do this work, we need to make sure we identify all the ‘containers’ we’ve created for arts & culture (including political parties) and the gate-keepers.” Janice Tanton
What’s the potential for arts & culture voices in Calgary-Varsity?
To realize our full potential as individuals, and as a community, we need to think about not just the economic aspects of our day-to-day lives, but non-economic aspects as well. How can we do that? For starters, we can think about how we think about people in Calgary-Varsity.
People who live in Calgary-Varsity may have jobs that take them out of the community during the day –e.g. engineers may work downtown, for example, at an energy company; nurses may work at the Foothills Hospital; independent entrepreneurs may have their own plumbing business operating all over the City of Calgary. And, we often associate these people with their ‘formal’ jobs – the engineer, the nurse, the entrepreneur. To dig deeper on the potential of our communities here in Calgary-Varsity, it would be helpful to start seeing these people more fully.
Do you know anyone in Calgary-Varsity who:
- Works in the energy sector AND is an artist or writer?
- Works in the healthcare sector AND participates in drama and theatre or plays in a band?
- Who runs their own business AND sits on the board of an organization that advances arts & culture?
Imagine the potential if we could: Identify these people. Connect these people to one another. Connect these clusters of people to Calgary-Varsity. And, connect arts & culture in Calgary-Varsity to what’s happening in Calgary, Alberta and beyond.
You are invited: Share this blog with anyone else who loves, appreciates or participates in the arts at any level.
