District 9 - Candidates

Candidates for Councillor in District 9

Josh Beitel

As a lifelong musician, I can't tell you how many concerts I've felt moved by in my life! One that comes to mind is my very first big concert, which was seeing Paul Simon at the Montreal Forum when I was 10 or 11. The combination of his performance and the crowd singing along was like nothing I'd experienced before.

Shawn Cleary

Many, many times, in galleries, at Nocturne, watching a friend create a piece, seeing my youngest working on his portfolio to get into NSCAD. A more specific example is the mural festival, especially on Quinpool Road. As the current councillor for the area, I've been a major sponsor these last three years. The residents, store owners, and customers coming onto the street are constantly talking about how the street feels different, better, more comfortable, with all the new murals. Some amazing artists have some incredible pieces here.

Laura Cusson

Too many come to mind!

Valar Kaliaperumal

Did not fill in survey

Tonya Malay

So many of our family members are artists such as Brianna Corr Scott, Don Scott, Kelly Mitchelmore, Jean Mosher. Date nights were spent at the art gallery looking through the sales and rental. One of my four children gifted us a piece of her work for our 25th wedding anniversary. We appreciate all forms of art including music, dance and sculptures etc.

Carlos Pessoa

I am musician and have always loved art

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)?

Josh Beitel

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes
​5. Yes

Shawn Cleary

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes
​5. Yes

Laura Cusson

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Would like to know more. Peer-reviewed, referring to artists? Would this be a volunteer group? How do we keep it fair for the artists? Just thoughts, interested in learning how this could be most effective.
​5. Excellent

Valar Kaliaperumal

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

Tonya Malay

1. Any spending has to be review
2. I can’t commit without knowing more information
3. Yes
4. Yes
​5. Yes

Carlos Pessoa

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. I would need to look into this program first.
​5. Yes

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?

Josh Beitel

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes

Shawn Cleary

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes

Laura Cusson

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes

Valar Kaliaperumal

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

Tonya Malay

1. Yes
2. Would need more information
3. Would need more information
4. I’d like to see if there’s space the city can offer

Carlos Pessoa

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. I would need to check the budget on a yearly basis

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?

Josh Beitel

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes

Shawn Cleary

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes

Laura Cusson

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes

Valar Kaliaperumal

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered

Tonya Malay

1. Yes
2. Is this a provincial question?
3. Yes

Carlos Pessoa

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes

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?

Josh Beitel

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes

Shawn Cleary

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes

Laura Cusson

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes

Valar Kaliaperumal

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered

Tonya Malay

1. Love this idea, would bring this idea to council
2. No
3. Yes

Carlos Pessoa

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes

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?

Josh Beitel

I think the measures listed above are all important. I think more opportunities for public art would also be great, because anytime you make art a part of people's daily lives is a win.

Shawn Cleary

In addition to the above, commissioning more public art. This will not only support more local artists but provide for more accessible and engaging art in the community.

Laura Cusson

Art is part of the identity of Halifax. To see our artists prosper, we need to give them opportunities to be showcased and thrive.

Valar Kaliaperumal

Did not fill in survey

Tonya Malay

I would encourage art sculptures that are based on community history i.e. the green space circle at the entrance of St. Andrew’s Rec Center

Carlos Pessoa

I think your survey quite well number of areas

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.

Josh Beitel

N/A

Shawn Cleary

N/A

Laura Cusson

N/A

Valar Kaliaperumal

Did not fill in survey

Tonya Malay

N/A

Carlos Pessoa

N/A