Ward 14 Candidate Information
All candidates were asked to respond to the following questions:
1. How do you experience the arts in Calgary? What are some of your recent experiences?
​​
2. What role do you see for the arts in building a strong, vibrant Calgary in the future?
​
3. Other than in the municipal budget, how would you champion the arts in the community as a city councillor or as mayor - to funders, the business community, and constituents?
4. Given what you know about the importance of the arts in building a competitive, prosperous city and your position on public arts funding, please choose which of the following statements best aligns with your perspective:
​
-
I believe a thriving, prosperous city must have a vibrant arts scene in order to succeed. The municipal government should prioritize finding strategic ways to increase investment in the arts sector.
-
I believe Calgary currently has many important civic priorities, including the arts. Current municipal investment in the arts is sufficient and should be maintained at its current level.
-
I believe the arts are a nice-to-have, not a need-to-have for Calgary. Calgary is facing a diverse range of challenges and it is not viable for municipal arts funding to remain at its current level.
Below are their responses verbatim, with no edits or omissions.
#1: As a proud Calgarian, I believe that arts and culture are essential to the heart and identity of our city. For me, the arts are not just entertainment, they are a way to bring people together, tell our stories, and reflect the diversity and richness of our communities. My experience with the arts in Calgary has been deeply rooted in community engagement. I’ve attended local cultural festivals, school performances, live theatre, and visual art exhibitions at spaces like cSPACE, Arts Commons, and various community pop-ups. I’m also a regular at multicultural events that feature traditional music, dance, and storytelling, especially those connected to my heritage and others across our diverse city. Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a local performance at the Evergreen Theatre and a community art event at the Legacy Community Association.
#2: The arts play a powerful and irreplaceable role in shaping the future of a strong, vibrant Calgary. In many ways, they are the soul of the city, offering spaces where people connect, heal, imagine, and build community across cultures, generations, and backgrounds. In a growing and increasingly diverse Calgary, the arts can help bridge divides and foster understanding. They give people a platform to tell their stories, celebrate their heritage, and contribute creatively to the city’s identity. This is especially important in times of transition or challenge, when the arts can offer hope, belonging, and expression. From a practical standpoint, arts and culture also support local economies, create jobs, and attract tourism and investment. When we support our artists, galleries, musicians, dancers, writers, and creative organizations, we’re investing in both social and economic resilience.
#3: As a city councilor, I’d support the arts by championing partnerships—connecting local artists with businesses, developers, and community events. I’d also work to make public spaces more accessible for artistic use, reduce red tape, and advocate for more provincial and federal support for Calgary’s arts organizations. Sometimes what’s needed most isn’t just more funding, but better visibility, access, and coordination. I’ll be a present, vocal advocate for the role of arts in building strong communities.
Erin Averbukh has not yet completed the survey.
Statement Chosen:
I believe Calgary currently has many important civic priorities, including the arts. Current municipal investment in the arts is sufficient and should be maintained at its current level.
Devin Elkin has not yet completed the survey.
Landon Johnstone
Landon Johnstone has not yet completed the survey.
Keener Hachey
Keener Hachey has not yet completed the survey.
Sunjiv Raval has not yet completed the survey.
#1: We [The Calgary Party] experience the arts in Calgary both as active supporters and engaged audience members. Members of our team have played leadership roles—professionally and as volunteers—in shaping the arts community, helping build platforms and spaces where creativity thrives. At the same time, we deeply value being part of the audience: attending Folk Fest, catching performances at Alberta Theatre Projects, enjoying Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra concerts, and visiting local exhibitions and galleries. We've also experienced the arts through family outings, sharing Calgary’s creative spirit with the next generation. From boardrooms to back rows, the arts have been a meaningful and multifaceted part of our lives in this city.
#2: The arts must be treated as foundational to Calgary’s future—not an afterthought. A truly vibrant, world-class city embeds arts and culture into its economic, civic, and community-building strategies. From drawing in tourism to supporting talent attraction and retention, the arts play a critical role in shaping Calgary’s identity and economic strength. A strong cultural scene helps fuel the hospitality industry, adds to our quality of life, and drives broader investment by making Calgary a more desirable place to live, work, and play. Culture contributes $5.3 billion annually to Alberta’s economy and creates over 53,000 jobs. While many artists face low wages, the broader impact of the sector is undeniable. Whether it’s Folk Fest bringing thousands to our parks, or local theatre and music scenes engaging Calgarians and newcomers alike, the arts are essential infrastructure for a future-focused city. If we want to attract global talent, keep young people here, and grow our local economy, investing in the arts isn’t optional—it’s strategic.
#3: As a mayor or city councillor, championing the arts goes far beyond budget lines — it’s about reframing the sector as a driver of economic, social, and civic growth. To funders and the business community, we would position arts and culture as essential to Calgary’s competitive edge that requires both public and private sector investment. . Culture contributes $5.3 billion annually to Alberta’s economy and supports over 53,000 jobs. A thriving arts scene is directly tied to tourism, hospitality, talent retention, and innovation. We would actively seek cross-sector partnerships that embed the arts into economic development, infrastructure projects, and placemaking strategies, treating artists as co-creators of Calgary’s future. We would encourage the business community to do their part, by investing in the arts, through sponsorships, philanthropy or engaging artists for their events. To constituents, we would highlight the lived experience: Calgarians engage in an average of 2.5 cultural activities each month. Arts are already a core part of people’s lives — whether through festivals, local theatre, music, or public art. We would champion grassroots arts initiatives, support activation of public spaces, and advocate for better access to affordable arts venues, including in underserved communities. Ultimately, we would use our platform to celebrate artists as builders of the city’s spirit, economy, and shared identity — and ensure their work is valued and visible across Calgary.
Statement Chosen:
I believe a thriving, prosperous city must have a vibrant arts scene in order to succeed. The municipal government should prioritize finding strategic ways to increase investment in the arts sector.