District 7 - Candidates

Candidates for Councillor in District 7

William Breckenridge

Growing up I trained for opera singing and enjoyed music very much. I hope all of Halifax's youth have the same opportunity to experience imagination and free expression that the arts offers.

Cathy Cervin

I have been working in various capacities for equity and social justice my whole career and I have always felt that theatre, music, comedy and other arts are most effective at changing people's hearts and minds. Back in the mid-90s I was involved in creating a medical education conference in which we used interactive theatre for one of the plenaries. The audience sat in a circle, the scene was played out and then audience members were invtied to suggest alternative responses and to get up and move into the scene and re-enact it. This was powerful, fun and had a major impact on the audience (mostly family doctors)

Andrea Hilchie-Pye

There are so many times when engaging with art moved me - visiting special art exhibits, attending plays, and attending concerts. This summer for example I attended a concert at the Queens Marque and the music played brought me joy as well as fond memories from music I was familiar with.

Aodhan P. Murphy

Did not fill in survey

Peter Sonnichsen

I visited the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg and found it to be a breathtaking experience that immersed me in the grandeur of Russian history and art. The art collection was mesmerizing. The Hermitage Museum, housed within the palace, boasts masterpieces from renowned artists like Rembrandt, Michelangelo, and Van Gogh. As I wandered through the galleries I found it quite emotional as each piece had its own unique tale. Some I understood and many left me pondering the actual significance of events long since past. No matter the poverty, the disease, the politic or the events of those times beauty was created by many for so few although enjoyed today by the masses. I found a quiet moment by a window, gazing at the Neva River, contemplating the history that unfolded within these walls. I experienced a blend of art, history, and beauty that left a lasting impression I have never forgotten.
​

Laura White

There are so many! An acquaintance gave me a novel, The Poisonwood Bible, around the time I was graduating from Dalhousie. Reading the book was such a rejuvenating experience after working so hard for five years to earn my engineering degree, reminding me that there is so much more to learn and enjoy in life.

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)?

William Breckenridge

1. This would have to fit with in the confines of not increasing tax rates for Haligonians
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes
​5. Yes

Cathy Cervin

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Would focus on emerging artists?
​5. Yes

Andrea Hilchie-Pye

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes
​5. Yes

Aodhan P. Murphy

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

Peter Sonnichsen

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes
​5. Yes

Laura White

1. Without knowledge of how these funding increases will affect other vital municipal services, I will commit to the first half of your question, and modify to aim to be within the top 50% in Canada for now (as I understand your question, we are now in the bottom 50%)
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes
​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?

William Breckenridge

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes

Cathy Cervin

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes

Andrea Hilchie-Pye

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes

Aodhan P. Murphy

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

Peter Sonnichsen

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes

Laura White

1. Yes
2. Yes, depending on what funds are available - this sounds expensive
3. Yes
4. Yes

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?

William Breckenridge

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes

Cathy Cervin

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. I need to understand this more before committing

Andrea Hilchie-Pye

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes

Aodhan P. Murphy

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered

Peter Sonnichsen

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes

Laura White

1. Yes, for everyone, many District 7 residents are not citizens
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?

William Breckenridge

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes

Cathy Cervin

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes

Andrea Hilchie-Pye

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes

Aodhan P. Murphy

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered

Peter Sonnichsen

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes

Laura White

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?

William Breckenridge

Halifax needs a civic museum that can also serve as an arts venue. I am dedicated to making this a reality.

Cathy Cervin

Generally I would support interventions by HRM that support co-ops of various kinds including arts co-ops and affordable housing co-ops. I feel that a vibrant thriving arts community is essential to a modern livable city

Andrea Hilchie-Pye

The arts and culture sector and its workers are a key member of our collective success in HRM. They contribute to improving the lives of others, our community and economy. I commit to advocating that their voice is at the table in decision making. ​

Aodhan P. Murphy

Did not fill in survey

Peter Sonnichsen

1. Foster collaborations between local businesses and artists to create public art and support cultural events.
2. Expand public art initiatives, ensuring that art is visible in everyday spaces across the city, from parks to transit stations.
​3. Advocate for sustained and expanded arts festivals like Nocturne, creating more opportunities for artists to showcase their work to large audiences

Laura White

I am passionate about public spaces and mobility options for everyone. Improvements to public spaces often involve public art, and improving these spaces and transportation options makes life more affordable and enjoyable for all.

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.

William Breckenridge

The arts breathe life into a city and offer its residents a platform for self-expression. It is crucial to appreciate and prioritize our arts to shape Halifax's future, enriching its economy, well-being, and cultural landscape.

Cathy Cervin

N/A

Andrea Hilchie-Pye

N/A

Aodhan P. Murphy

Did not fill in survey

Peter Sonnichsen

I envision a Halifax where art and culture are celebrated daily and where creative talent can thrive with the support it deserves.

Laura White

I am in favour of all of the suggestions in this survey. The question is how to we fund these initiatives without taking away from other vital services. Please see my policy perspective on Financial Sustainability for ideas on how we can become a municipality that can fund more of these initiatives. Please bring specific ideas to staff/council as appropriate and we will see what can be funded in the budget. Councillors also have a small about of discretionary funding that could be partially allocated to some of these initiatives.