Lynne Fraser believes cultivating arts and culture in the community improves the quality of life for all citizens.

Her attitude has led to countless hours volunteering for various cultural organizations throughout the city and sparked her own creative passion.

Fraser currently serves on the cultural committee for the City of Nanaimo. Over the years she has volunteered for several organizations and has served on the cultural forum subcommittee, working on operation and special cultural grants, served as commissioner on the Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission, is a past director for Arts Alive and past president of TheatreOne. She has even served as a board director for about half a dozen organizations simultaneously.

“I divide myself between social causes and cultural causes,” said Fraser.

She retired two and a half years ago from the Coastal Community Credit Union, where she was responsible for the community involvement program. But retirement hasn’t slowed down her involvement in the community.

When her husband became sick a couple of years ago, Fraser stopped participating in many organizations, focusing on family first. Her husband was seriously ill and needed a lung transplant. He received the transplant and is now recovering, said Fraser.

After aiding her husband through his illness, Fraser became involved in cultural community organizations again.

Her attraction to the arts stems from her interest in creating dialogues with people and belief that culture is an important component in society.

“Without culture what’s the point?” said Fraser.

One of her favourite parts of becoming involved in cultural organizations is strategic planning. She loves searching for grant funding, handling the financial paperwork and talking with people to get projects moving forward.

“You put it on paper and get people thinking what the future will look like and then you create that future,” said Fraser.

Fraser’s involvement in the arts has also led her on a journey into exploring her own artistic side. About a year ago she began to paint glass. Although she humbly doesn’t refer to herself as a artist, she enjoys the creative outlet of painting designs and sells her wares at local farmers’ markets.

reporter3@nanaimobulletin.com