Marion Orme was a quiet, reserved woman who received great satisfaction from bringing out the artistic ability in others. In the late 1950’s she was a member of the Ryder Lake Women’s Institute, which was involved in arranging some traveling galleries to show at the Ryder Lake Community Hall and St. Thomas Anglican Church. Mrs. Orme believed that culture was an important part of a good education and of life as a whole. She often stated she was not an organizer, “I couldn’t be president.” On that premise, she approached Mrs. Mary E. Allan, who had come to Ryder Lake to speak to the Women’s Institute about the Red Cross. Mary Allan accepted the challenge immediately.

Mary Allan organized and chaired the first meeting, acting as the temporary president and then was formally elected after the first public meeting in November of 1958. Although she officially served only one term as president, she mapped out the development strategy of the Council, initiated many activities and provided a vision of what the organization would become.

The Chilliwack Arts Council was chartered in 1960 and had its first “home” in the old school/ workshop/ council chambers located behind the old Municipal Hall on Alexander Avenue.

Over 50 years later, the Chilliwack Community Arts Council is still continuing their mission and offering community events, and arts programming for kids and adults throughout Chilliwack.