Patricia Johnston shares how supporting artsPlace helps her contribute to the future of the Bow Valley.
Strengthening our communities today creates a foundation that can support the wellbeing of generations to come. Community connection and a sense of belonging are essential for our mental health, providing purpose and meaning as we move through our lives. Likewise, creativity helps us express our experiences and emotions, leading to a greater sense of wholeness and fulfillment.
For Patricia Johnston, creativity is one of the building blocks of a thriving community.
“Creativity is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle,” she says. “I believe the wellbeing of an individual impacts the wellbeing of the community they live in and, in turn, the world in general.”
Patricia is a student of oil painting and a longtime patron of the arts. Her philanthropic endeavours include supporting arts organizations like the Phoenix Theatre, the Art Gallery of Alberta, and Eighteen Bridges magazine. After a long career running a non-hospital surgical and medical centre, Patricia retired in Canmore. Her passion for the arts drew her to become a Board Director at artsPlace.
“artsPlace has become the heART centre of the Bow Valley and I hope that, in some small way, my contribution will help the organization continue to thrive.”
“As a past Board member and an active participant in raising funds for artsPlace, I have had the great satisfaction of watching the organization grow from its inception,” Patricia says. “artsPlace offers diverse and creative programming—there’s truly something for everyone and the team continuously responds to the community’s need for more creative outlets.”
Patricia has also been on the other side of the fundraising equation, having made generous contributions to artsPlace as a donor herself. She currently contributes financially to artsPlace through donating securities, which provides her with a non-refundable tax credit that reduces income tax. By donating the securities directly to artsPlace, she also does not have to pay capital gains tax on the investment earnings. This gift is part of Patricia’s personal vision for the impact she hopes to have on her community here in the Bow Valley—one that will last for years to come.
“My philanthropic goals have always started with my local community,” she says. “Donating to artsPlace is an opportunity to enhance the community in which we live, work, and play.”
