District 4 - Candidates

Candidates for Councillor in District 4

James Aalders

Did not fill in survey

Joe Colley

Performing at the Scotia Bank Centre (At the time called Metro Centre) for the Dutch Mason celebration of Life to honor Dutch. I'm a member of the Nova Scotia Mass Choir

Nicole Johnson

Did not fill in survey

Trish Purdy

Did not fill in survey

Scroll down for the detailed feedback from the candidate:

GHAC has four specific goals we're asking candidates to engage with.
Goal One: Become a leader in funding arts and culture activities.  Will you commit to:
1. Increasing HRM arts and culture program funding until it meets and exceeds the median per capita spending on art and culture of other major Canadian cities, with a goal of consistently ranking in the top 25% for arts and culture funding within the next 4 years?
2. Indexing HRM arts and culture funding to inflation to avoid real value erosion of funding envelopes?
3. Structuring HRM arts and culture funding programs to ensure equitable and meaningful investments in underrepresented communities and new voices?
4. Initiating a new HRM peer-reviewed funding program for grants to professional artist individuals and small groups targeted towards creation, presentation and professional development?
5. Initiating a new HRM program to fund artistic residencies promoting artistic research, creation and community engagement within HRM departments (example: Halifax Public Gardens artist-in-residence)?

James Aalders

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered
4. Unanswered
​5. Unanswered

Joe Colley

1. Yes
2. We all must contribute to the arts and culture in some form to avoid erosion.
3. Yes
4. Yes
5. Yes

Nicole Johnson

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered
4. Unanswered
​5. Unanswered

Trish Purdy

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered
4. Unanswered
​5. Unanswered

Goal Two:  Increase supply of varied, accessible artistic venues and cultural production facilities.  Will you commit to:
1. Addressing gaps identified in HRM Performing & Visual Arts Venues Study (2024) and Discover Halifax Venues Inventory and Assessment (forthcoming)?
2. Providing major capital grants to arts and culture organizations building or renovating venues for the production or presentation of arts and culture?
3. Providing capital improvement grants to arts and culture organizations who own or rent premises?
4. Increasing grant funding available to non-profit arts and culture organizations that rent space to offset the steep rise in rental costs?

James Aalders

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered
4. Unanswered

Joe Colley

1. Yes
2. If means keeping the organizations going, HRM has to be ready to provide whatever funding available from the capital grants program.
3. Yes
4. Yes

Nicole Johnson

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered
4. Unanswered

Trish Purdy

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered
4. Unanswered

Goal Three:  Equitable access to diverse arts learning opportunities for all citizens, in and out of schools.  Will you commit to:
1. Piloting a collaborative delivery model between HRM Parks & Recreation and local professional arts and culture organizations to increase arts and culture program offerings
2. Prioritizing arts education in schools by ensuring funds continue to be allocated through a Supplementary Education Funding Agreement between HRM and Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) and that such funds stay dedicated to arts education?
3. Increasing public event venue-use at Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) facilities for arts and culture programming by targeting staffing, funding and maintenance of such venues?

James Aalders

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered

Joe Colley

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes

Nicole Johnson

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered

Trish Purdy

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered

Goal Four:  An HRM where everyone can participate in thriving arts and culture activities.  Will you commit to:
1. Offering free public transit for major arts and cultural events, building off successful piloted efforts such as free transit for the first weekend in December, and chartered Halifax Transit buses for Nocturne and Juno Awards events?
2. Funding arts and culture organizations to improve financial accessibility of arts and culture experiences by reducing or eliminating admission fees for arts and culture events, programs, and activities?
3. Retaining and growing the creative and artistic workforce in HRM by developing affordable housing and live/work spaces for artists, and creating a Housing Task Force that includes artists, arts organizations, planners, and developers to define needs and propose viable economic models?

James Aalders

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered

Joe Colley

1. Yes
2. Would have to charge something to cover some of expenses. Low flat rate for all.
3. Would try to do whatever possible to keep arts and culture going!

Nicole Johnson

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered

Trish Purdy

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered

How else do you commit to supporting and strengthening the arts and culture sector in Halifax, and improving the lives of the thousands of citizens who are arts and culture workers?

James Aalders

Did not fill in survey

Joe Colley

I would collaborate with those involved in the arts and culture sector in HRM to ensure we are doing everything possible to keep everyone pleased with the work they do!

Nicole Johnson

Did not fill in survey

Trish Purdy

Did not fill in survey

If there's anything else you'd like to tell us about your vision for arts and culture in Halifax, please use the space below.

James Aalders

Did not fill in survey

Joe Colley

N/A

Nicole Johnson

Did not fill in survey

Trish Purdy

Did not fill in survey