Port Colborne

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Arts, culture, and heritage are essential to Port Colborne’s identity and future, and expanding our focus on the arts strengthens community pride, supports local creators, and brings new energy to our historic waterfront and neighbourhoods. During my first term on Council (2011–2014), I introduced the motion that created Port Colborne’s first Culture and Recreation Master Plan, establishing a long‑term framework for cultural development, heritage preservation, and accessible recreation. With more than 30 years of volunteer service and 12 years on Council, I have consistently championed cultural programming, youth creative opportunities, and responsible stewardship of heritage assets, and I remain committed to ensuring that Port Colborne’s cultural identity continues to grow in ways that honour our history while inspiring future generations.

(Candidate completed the survey, but did not leave additional comments.)

(Candidate completed the survey, but did not leave additional comments.)

I fully support a strong arts, culture, and heritage sector in our municipalities. As a father of two girls that are involved in the arts through dance and theatre, I see firsthand how important the arts are to a community. My wife is also a high school art teacher and serves as the Indigenous Navigator for her school, so the importance of arts, culture, and heritage is something our family experiences every day. The arts, culture, and heritage sector helps give a community its identity and creates spaces where people can connect, express themselves, and take pride in where they live. Great examples of this are the art murals on city owned buildings such as the Harbour Master building at the municipal docks along West Street and the newer mural at the Lion's Field. These murals have given the buildings and the surrounding areas new life while adding character and enhancing the community. I believe continuing to support and invest in arts, culture, and heritage helps create a community that is vibrant, welcoming, and proud of its history while looking toward its future.

As a past employee at three different municipal museums around the Niagara Region, a past employee at the Port Colborne Public Library, and a professional within the library field - the arts, cultural, and heritage sector is incredibly important to our community identity and connectivity. Investment in this field boosts our economy and development.