Nelson’s arts, culture and heritage sector plays a significant role in the social, cultural and economic life of our community. In advance of the 2026 municipal election, we are inviting candidates to share their perspectives on the sector and their priorities should they be elected. The Arts, Culture & Heritage Candidate Survey is conducted by the Nelson & District Arts Council, Nelson Museum, Archives, and Gallery, Oxygen Art Centre, Kootenay Regional Arts Council, Tapatía Collective, and The Capitol Theatre.
The 2026 local election will be held Saturday, October 17, 2026. Eligible voters will elect one mayor and six councillors, as well as two School District 8 trustees.
Two advance voting opportunities will be held at City Hall, 2nd Floor, Council Chambers, on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 and Wednesday, October 14, 2026 from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the City of Nelson website.
In this survey, we hear from Janice Morrison, a Candidate for the office of Mayor.
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Civic Experience
What experience do you have working in politics?
What is your knowledge in regards to municipal politics and responsibilities?
What vision of community would you bring to city council?
I was first elected to city council in 1999, re-elected in 2014 and 2108 and won the mayoralty race in 2022. I am now seeking a second term as mayor .
I have extensive knowledge of municipal governance. I am familiar with the Community Charter and the Local Government Act – both which set out and guide what the roles and responsibilities of local government are.
I have also served as a trustee of the Municipal Finance Authority of BC which is the agency local governments in BC use to fund major projects that require borrowing – for example upgrades to the sewage treatment plant, community centres.
My vision is simple and and aligns with community values – we need to keep Nelson economically vibrant and affordable, socially responsible and environmentally resilient. In these next four years we need to begin major infrastructure renewal projects without disproportionately increasing the tax burden on residents and businesses
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Community Engagement & Transparency
How would you encourage residents, community organizations, and local non-profits to participate meaningfully in City visioning and decision-making?
How would you ensure transparency and accountability in your own decision-making?
We need to continue to work on building trust, lowering barriers to accessing participation and then reflecting back how their ( residents, NFP’s, other community orgs) input shaped the final decisions.
Two examples of where this has been highly successful is with NelsonNext and more recently the updated Official Community Plan ( OCP), where we even won an award for executing this work at the local level with no outside consultants hired. These important road maps for future development of Nelson are grounded in the priorities and values Nelson residents and businesses have named as important.
There are many ways that could be considered/incorporated to facilitate community engagement. Hybrid formats – online surveys combined with town hall meetings/open houses. Meet people where they are – community events, our summer markets or social/service club meetings. We also need to ensure with lived experience also have opportunities to have their voices heard.
From a personal perspective my decisions are made in the public domain and as such are transparent and as a result make me accountable to the residents of Nelson. In the last term I reduced the number of in camera meetings and opened the agenda to have more opportunities for council and myself to report on our local activities as well as submit reports on external events ( AKBLG, UBCM, FCM). I declare all conflicts of interest and file all financial declarations as per the rules of the Local Government Act.
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Understanding Nelson’s Arts, Culture & Heritage Sector
What is your impression of Nelson’s arts, culture, and heritage sector?
What role do you believe it plays in our community?
Nelson’s arts, culture and heritage sector( ACH) is an essential economic driver and foundational community pillar. Strong communities rely on gathering spaces where people can share stories, celebrate creativity and build mutual connections. ACH is key to regional and local tourism, local job creation and economic diversification.
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Understanding the Non-Profit Sector
Are you familiar with the operational realities and funding models of non-profit arts, culture, and heritage organizations?
What do you see as the primary challenges facing these organizations today?
Over my many years of being a dedicated community volunteer I am familiar with non- profit operations ( and constraints). I have had a range of involvements including the Nelson Rotary Club , the KLH Foundation and the Chamber of Commerce all of which are non – profit organizations.
I have actively backed infrastructure renewal for local cultural assets to address fundings gaps, for example the major capital expansion of the Civic Theatre. We as council have also supported the lease of the city owned site of the previous KSA to the Nelson Community Land Trust for the new 606 Arts Space
Like many organizations the primary challenge is capital as well as operational funding.
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Truth, Reconciliation & Indigenous Relationships
Arts, culture and heritage organizations have an important role to play in truth, reconciliation and decolonization.
What learning have you undertaken with Indigenous peoples, histories, and communities connected to this territory?
Have you built relationships with the Indigenous community?
How do you see City Council leadership contributing meaningfully to this work?
My person journey regarding truth and reconciliation has been informed by many formal and informal education oppourtunites. I have had formal training from my union ( the health sciences association of BC), from my employer – Interior Health, and my professional association.
I have done blanket exercises with my union, the Nelson Police Department and at an FCM conference ( Federation of Canadian Municipalities).
I have also taken done further personal education byusing some of the wonderful resources our local Nelson Library has on the history of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. I have also read Justice Murray Sinclair’s Commission report on the 94 calls to action.
Regarding relationship building I have attended and or been invited to speak at many of the Sinixt Confederacy activities and celebrations in Nelson in my term as Mayor. I have attended the AGA – Annual general Assembly – of the Ktunaxa Nation.
In regards to council we follow more formal government to government protocols that are recommended by the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. We have received Community to Community funding supported by the Province to engage in building relationships, host dialogue forums and advance reconciliation with our local First Nations. The OCP embeds Indigenous reconciliation in to the city’s land use, heritage protection and growth plans.
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Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility
What learning or experience have you had related to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility?
If elected, how would these principles influence your work as a City Councillor?
As a physical therapist at KLH for 30 + yearsaccessibility has always been a priority for me and more importantly my clients.
Some positive outcomes this council has done is completing the Victoria Street transit exchange to improve public transit. We also opened the Fairview Gardens Care facility to ensure local seniors can affordably remain in the community.
In terms of EDIB (I like to add the B for belonging). In my years as a Director, secretary/tresusrer and VP of the Health Sciences Association of BC I have taken significant training in this area and we now also have three equity seeking groups within the union as well as Women’s caucus. Training in EDIB also occurs at the Nelson Police Board level as well as at the member level.
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Participation in Arts, Culture & Heritage
How often do you attend an arts and culture event in the community?
Do you or have you ever volunteered for an arts, culture, or heritage non-profit?
Do you purchase local artworks or support the sector in other ways?
I attended as many arts and cultural events as my schedule allows. As Mayor, in my official welcomes I encourage residents and vistors alike to actively purchase from local shops, take in art shows and attend local concerts
I have never actively volunteered for any organization in this sector, but I do have a long history of volunteerism in the community. Some of groups I have volunteered with do give financial support to arts and culture organizations in Nelson – for example the Nelson Rotary Club.
I do give yearly financial support to many of Nelson’s Arts, Culture, Youth and Community organizations. I also have yearly memberships with NCTS and NMAG.
Over the years my partner Mike and I have purchased the works of many local artisans – I sent the ED of NDAC – who sent out this survey a few pictures ( as proof) of my personal support of the arts.
List 8 cultural organizations and businesses that deliver community-based arts.
- NMAG
- NCTS
- Oxygen Art Centre
- Capitol Theater
- 606 Victoria Arts ( formerly KSA)
- Crafted
- Drift
- Shambhala Music festival
- Tiny Lights
- Polka Dot Lantern Festival
- Nelson International Mural Festival
- Artwalk
- Nelson Markets
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The Future of Arts, Culture & Heritage in Nelson
What do you believe are the most important contributions arts, culture, and heritage make to Nelson?
What would you as a councillor do to support the sector’s growth?
How do you think the sector could be strengthened over the next four years?
Social infrastructure which does include more than just these three sectors, is going to become even more important in the coming years. The internet and social media have already increased individual’s isolation,and I believe AI is compounding these issues. Libraries, parks, rec centers, arts and cultural institutions, museums and trails are vital. As well as being an economic driver, social infrastructure is the linchpin that supports vital, healthy and prosperous communities.
I will personally continue to support this sector as I have for the past number of years. As mayor I will continue to speak to the value this sector adds to the economy of Nelson and the health of its residents.
I believe this is already a very strong sector with fantastic advocates and impressive grant writers. I see the city continuing with letters of support to funders as is often a requirement for grant funding.
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Municipal Investment
Do you believe municipal investment in Nelson’s arts, culture, and heritage sector should be maintained or increased?
How would you balance investment in the sector with the other demands on the City’s budget?
This is an interesting question in a time when many are concerned about affordability and rising taxes and the city has limited avenues to increase revenue.
My honest answer is to hold funding, but at the same time acknowledging two of our largest institutions – the Capitol theatre and NMAG have service agreements which have automatic an escalator based on what the city uses as CPI ( we have been historically using 2%).
Also keep in mind that city has extended a significant line of credit to the Civic Theatre restoration project, has given 25K for the last 9 years to the mural festival,and has leased the KSA building to the Nelson land trust for 1 dollar a year for the first 2 years.
If money was not an issue I would be advocating for more funding and capital investment in all our social infrastructure in Nelson.
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Affordable & Accessible Cultural Space
The cost and availability of cultural spaces is an increasing challenge for artists, cultural workers and non-profit organizations.
What role do you believe the City should play in protecting and supporting affordable spaces for arts, culture, and heritage services in Nelson?
What role do you believe the City should play in developing affordable cultural spaces?
I believe I have covered the answer to this question in in Q9. An additional comment would be that I view the city as a facilitator and partner rather than a primary developer – again my examples are Capitol theatre, NMAG and 606 Arts Studio.
In regards to supporting growth – I would cite the work that has been put into renovation the Civid centre in general and the more specifically the assistance to see the revitalization of the Civic Theatre. In the past there was significant funding along with significant community support to move the Museum from Anderson Street to its present location in a iconic historic Nelson building
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Arts, Culture & Heritage in City Planning
How should arts, culture and heritage be considered within broader municipal decisions related to the following:
- Economic development and tourism?
- City and specifically downtown planning and the development of public space?
- Affordable housing for cultural workers?
What role do arts, culture and heritage play in community wellbeing?
In 2004 the City of Nelson established Arts and Cultural task Force who’s goal was to recommend to Council strategiesc policies and actions that will promote the arts and cultural as critical components of Nelson’s overall economic development plan.
The Cultural development commission CDC was a result of this task force. One of the CDC roles was to bring together the diverse cultural and art voices in our community. While it might not be what was exactly envisioned in 2004 there have been successes. The CDC is an advocacy voice to council with a council appointee who is expected to report back on activities. We have the wonderful Cultural Ambassador program and we are bringing on a Lifetime achievement award.
The CDC also collaborates with the Heritage working group.
We have the Art rental program that show cases local artist in City Hall
25 % of the CBT ReDI grant funding is juried by the CDC
Public space and the downtown core. The new OCP directly nests heritage protection and community well – being into broader choices regarding land use and publiv space development.
I have aggressively lobbied the Provincial Ministry of Housing to reverse funding cuts to local affordable housing developments, sighting that rural towns lack the private development oppourtuites of major cities to absorb this loss of funding. My focus would be to get these housing partnerships back and track to benefit the local workforce, including artist and non-profit staff
Cultural hubs are central pillars of social resilience, acting as physical spaces where diverse community members can connect and prevent isolation. They area closely ties to economic development, contribute to the health and wellness of our community and are often a determinant as to whether people relocate of even stay in Nelson. As a health care professional I see social infrastructure as making the community whole. When we are sick we need a hospital but we also need places that make us feel joyful, vital and alive. ACH keep us active, stimulate the mind, calm the soul and make us laugh regardless of age and ability
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Your Commitment
If elected, what is one concrete action you would like to see City Council and the City of Nelson take during the next Council term to strengthen arts, culture, and heritage in our community?
My commitment is to continue to do what I have always done as a councillor, city director to the RDCK and Mayor – to be open to new ideas, collaborative with our partners and work hard. The world around is changing and pressures from outside our doors are mounting. I plan to take the experience I have gained as a community leader and apply it to these shifting realities. Residents of Nelson what a community that I economically vibrant, socially responsible and environmentally resilient. ACH have an important role to play