The arts have been important to Wendy throughout her life. In her counselling work and personal life she has experienced the power of the arts to heal and to build community.
Locally, the vibrant arts community is a huge part of our identity that significantly contributes to the economic vitality of the region. The calibre of our artists and theatre is very high and is recognized provincially, nationally, and internationally. Our natural and First Nations history is rich and renowned.
When first elected, Wendy was surprised to hear that the arts and culture community had received minimal support from the regional economic development service. Council received and considered recommendations of the Cultural Services Report by Patricia Huntsman in 2019. Subsequently, for the first time, council directed staff to implement policies and actions to bolster support of the arts community.
The first phase of those recommendations included the following:
- Instituting a fee for service agreement for Comox Valley Arts
- Establishing a working group for city-supported arts institutions
- Supporting increased focus and attention on arts & culture tourism
