From the Minister

July 29, 2021 | Arts and culture
Supporting Alberta’s cultural recovery

A new focus on revitalizing Alberta’s arts, culture and creative industries.

Key information

  • Funding community-building projects
    • The Community Initiatives Program provides funding to support initiatives that enhance and enrich communities throughout Alberta.
    • Find all funding opportunities for projects in the areas of arts, culture, community, heritage, recreation, sport, and diversity and inclusion.
  • Supporting Alberta’s Francophonie
    • The French Policy Action Plan identifies steps the Government of Alberta is taking to enhance services in French.
    • The Alberta Advisory Council on the Francophonie advises on the implementation and evaluation of the French Policy. The council also ensures that the diversity of the Albertan French-speaking community is represented in decision-making.
    • Parliamentary Secretary for the Francophonie Laila Goodridge connects government and the Francophone community.
  • Reducing gender discrimination

In focus

Budget 2021

Alberta’s budget is focused on protecting lives and livelihoods, investing in health care, preparing for recovery and spending responsibly.

Supporting students working to reduce gender discrimination

The new Leaders in Equality Award of Distinction (LEAD) Program is one of many ways Alberta’s government is helping address gender disparity in the workplace and reduce the wage gap.

Stabilize Program

The Stabilize Program will provide one-time grant funding to support live experience presenting and performing arts, sport and rodeo organizations so they can continue to operate and reopen when it is safe to do so.

RTMP Museum from Home
The Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology is continuing to share stories about their work and collection online so you can visit the #MuseumFromHome.

Biography

Ronald Orr was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Lacombe-Ponoka on May 5, 2015, and was re-elected on April 16, 2019.

Mr. Orr currently serves as the chair of the Standing Committee on Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund. He is a member of the Select Special Committee on Real Property Rights.

He has previously served as a member of the Standing Committee on Private Bills, the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future, the Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services and the Standing Committee on Families and Communities.

Mr. Orr has a master’s degree in theology and is an ordained minister. He also holds a journeyman carpenter’s ticket and a registered housing professional certificate and has previously owned a general contracting business.

His community involvement includes board positions with a number of charitable organizations, including the Gull Lake Centre and Calgary’s Mustard Seed Society. He also served as a public information officer for the municipal emergency management team for the village of Clive, Alberta.

Mr. Orr was born in Calgary and has lived in Lacombe-Ponoka for 13 years. He and his wife, Donna Marie, have 3 children.