Cultural Sustainability Committee

The City of St. Catharines' Cultural Sustainability Committee works to build our community's identity, preserves and cultivates traditions, and develops belief systems and commonly accepted values.

Five advisory committees report to the Committee, which include:

Meetings

The Committee meets quarterly or at the discretion of the Chair. You can view our meeting calendar to read our agendas and minutes to stay informed.

Our purpose

The Cultural Sustainability Committee was established to:

Review and approve the work plans of advisory committees to ensure that they align with Council's strategic priorities and guiding documents
Identify opportunities for advisory committees to collaborate, coordinate or consult
Recommend changes to Council regarding advisory committee terms of reference, composition, or continuance
Make recommendations to Council about advisory committee appointments.
Review strategies, projects, policies, and initiatives that align with the Strategic Plan's cultural sustainability goals and action items at the request of Council
Ensure advisory committee work plans do not overlap or conflict with the plans or terms of reference of other advisory committees

Members

Membership terms align with Council terms or as determined by Council. The Committee may invite non-member participation at discretion.

Council representatives

The Committee includes up to three members of Council, which include:

Councillor Carlos Garcia (Chair)
Councillor Karrie Porter
Councillor Kevin Townsend (Vice-Chair)

Council members on Cultural Sustainability Committee are members by right of office in all advisory committees; however, they are non-voting and not included in the quorum of advisory committees.

Committee representatives

Committee membership includes the Chairs of each advisory committee:

Sandy Middleton, Chair, Arts and Culture Advisory Committee
Brian Narhi, Chair, Heritage Advisory Committee and Co-Chair, Heritage Permit Advisory Committee
Michael O'Neill, Chair, Museum Advisory Committee
Stephen Remus, Public Art Advisory Committee
Robert De Wolfe, Co-Chair, Heritage Permit Advisory Committee

Staff representatives

Staff representatives include:

Tami Kitay, Director, Planning and Building Services
David Upper, Director, Fire Services
Ashley Judd-Rifkin, Culture Coordinator (Staff Liaison - Arts and Culture Advisory Committee and Public Art Advisory Committee)
Kathleen Powell, Supervisor Historical Services and A/Supervisor Cultural Services (Staff Liaison - St. Catharines Museum Advisory Committee)
James Neilson, Heritage Planner (Staff Liaison - Heritage Advisory Committee and Heritage Permit Advisory Committee)
Julie Hughes, Administrative Support