Welland

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Arts, culture and heritage are an important part of what makes a community a great place to live, work and visit. They bring people together, strengthen our sense of community, support local businesses and tourism, and contribute to the vitality of our downtown and neighbourhoods. Throughout my career in municipal and regional government, including serving as Mayor of Wainfleet and Chair of the Niagara Parks Commission, I have seen the value of protecting our heritage, supporting community organizations, and creating places and experiences residents can be proud of. As Mayor of Welland, I would look for practical ways to support and promote our local arts and cultural sector while remaining responsible with taxpayer dollars. That means listening to the people and organizations working in the sector, incorporating arts and culture into economic development and tourism, supporting opportunities that bring people into our downtown, and ensuring municipal investments have clear objectives and deliver value to the community. Welland has a rich history and a strong community identity. Arts, culture and heritage should be part of how we celebrate that identity while building an even more vibrant and welcoming city for the future.

Welland has a significant number of artists and a fair amount of public art but there is insufficient focus, funding and interest in taking better advantage of these to the betterment of the local economy and livability for residents. The fact that we don't even have a permanent, physical art gallery is to the detriment of this city.

Arts, culture, and heritage are not luxuries or afterthoughts. They help make a city worth staying in, visiting, investing in, and being proud of. I believe that a city succeeds when it attracts and retains talent, and talent is drawn to communities with opportunity, creativity, and openness. For Welland, that means recognizing that artists, cultural organizations, heritage advocates, small businesses, and community builders are part of our economic future, not separate from it. I know this through my own work. I founded and direct the Art Gallery of Welland and created Art on Welland Bell Boxes. Through these initiatives, I have worked and continue to work to create opportunities for local artists, bring art into public spaces, build partnerships with local businesses and community organizations, and make culture more visible and accessible in daily life. I have also brought arts and culture issues to City Hall because these conversations belong in municipal decision-making! My volunteer experience includes service on Welland’s Arts and Culture Advisory Committee and Heritage Advisory Committee. Those roles have reinforced my belief that culture strengthens belonging, supports local business and tourism, animates public spaces, and gives communities a stronger sense of identity. Heritage matters for the same reason. It connects us to the people, places, and stories that shaped Welland. As a candidate for Welland City Council, Ward 2, I support a responsible and measurable approach to arts, culture, and heritage. That means including clear cultural priorities in City planning; supporting accessible opportunities for residents of all ages, incomes, abilities, and backgrounds; protecting heritage buildings, sites, and collections (actually having art in the collection as well); and ensuring that artists and cultural organizations are included early in conversations about growth, public spaces, master plans, parks, and neighbourhood change. Being responsible with public dollars matters. So does recognizing the return on investment that arts, culture, and heritage create. Municipal support should be transparent, fair, connected to clear community outcomes, and reported publicly so residents can see its value. Welland’s growth should strengthen what makes it distinct. A vibrant cultural life, protected heritage, welcoming public spaces, and opportunities for local creativity are all part of building the stronger, more connected city residents deserve. Thank you, Aldo

Many of these questions asked and things suggested are questions I have asked and things that I have also suggested as a member and chair of our cities arts and culture advisory committee. I've also said many of the same things in other meetings that are not specifically Arts related as well, but more geared towards economic development and downtown. Arts aren't just a hobby, they are a way of life for some.

I was Chair of Welland Festival of Arts (Welland Murals, Kids Arts Day) and this needs to be brought back. I would like to see a policy that covers public art. I was on the task force that produced the Regional Cultural Plan. If people in arts and culture want to help campaign with me, I would appreciate it very much. Reach me through davidalexander.ca

Arts, Culture, History and Heritage are an integral part of a wholistic lifestyle. I would love to see a revitalized downtown, with a vibrant arts culture. Our historic buildings need to be maintained and cherished.

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

I believe that the arts community plays a strong integral part in people's lives. It is a sustenance in life that is paramount for a healthy mindset, creative growth, and educational advancement for and through one's life. Like music, the arts, as a whole, is a valuable link for one's mind-therapy and connects the artist and their audience by addressing current time's inspiration in life while inspiring the future with the connection of memories etched in one's lifetime history. I, myself, have grown in the arts community - specifically the music industry. Since infancy, my second love has always been music. From learning the craft through education, to spearheading my own production company, to launching and maintaining an artist's career, and working with International music artists, my abstract in the music industry has been a lifetime blessing. Working on major tour concert productions with Bruno Mars, Bryan Adams, Coldplay, Elton John, Lady Gaga, Steve Hacket (Genesis), Taylor Swift, and The Weeknd to name a few, music has been paramount in my life resume. This has inspired my own artistic juices creating filmscore and further writing. If asked, "Are the arts important in one's life?" Undeniably and indisputably the answer is a resounding "YES"! And if there is any advice that I could give to any artist passionate about their craft it would be to "Never Let Go of Your Dreams."