The Waterfront District BIA

For 11 plus years Lora has dedicated her career to developing and expanding the Arts & Culture landscape of Thunder Bay, focusing on the downtown Waterfront District. She is the Community Coordinator at Definitely Superior Art Gallery, where she founded the Die Active Art Collective and co founded Neechee Studio, an Indigenous Youth-Led Arts Collective.

The programs and events she creates draw thousands of visitors to the downtown each year. From the Lost & Found Street Art Festival to the Hunger Halloween Fundraiser and the 25 graffiti murals from Waverly Library to Cooke Street, she believes emerging artists and entrepreneurs are the next cultural producers and builders of our city. Lora’s programs have provided a much needed transfusion of enthusiastic young blood into the region.

Lora is a practicing artist, graphic designer and an important mentor and advocate for entrepreneurs in Northwestern Ontario. She is passionate about good design having branded a number of BIA businesses including Tomlin Restaurant, New Day Records and St Paul Roastery. Creating dynamic, contemporary & visual experiences for Downtown Port Arthur is her passion.

For her efforts Lora was awarded the ARCCO Emerging Leader Award (2016), the Arts & Heritage Award for Cultural Educator, and Best Cultural Organization, The Mayors Award for Outstanding Community Project 2018 & 2012 and was invited to speak at TEDx, Thunder Bay on the Topic of Youth Led Cultural Production. She has also received dozens of grants for her artistic practice and will serve you a mad good cup of coffee at St Paul Roastery if you catch her (Tuesdays & Thursdays! – or maybe other days).