An Accessible Grande Prairie

Today I took part in Chair Leaders. This is a program by Spinal Cord Injury Alberta which allows community leaders to see what it is like to use a wheelchair... I’ve always felt that accessibility is important, but this experience gave me a more concrete perspective on “why” and "how." It also opened my eyes to how challenging it is. I’m excited to share some thoughts, experiences and ideas.

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Engaging Our Young People

THE SHORT VERSION: Having a supportive and attractive community is important for our young people- they deserve a great community to grow up in. It is also important for our sustainability. For long term community health, we need to invest in our next generation of workers, business owners, volunteers, parents, and civic leaders. One of the best ways we can care for our youth is by giving them opportunities for engagement. I want to see this happen by involving them in City decisions, gathering accurate information about what is going on in their world, supporting the great youth organisations we have, and by giving young people opportunities to get involved in sport, recreation, and cultural activities. However, engagement is also about leadership. We need leaders who are optimistic about the future, who earn the right to lead young people, and who invite youth into the democratic process.

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Connecting With Our Municipal Neighbours

THE SHORT VERSION: The province is giving the City and County two years to decide how to get better at working together. These negotiations will get complicated, but they are important. Our Council needs to do a good job representing the City. At the same time, negotiations need to be collaborative rather than oppositional. We need people at the negotiating table who are consensus builders. Our focus also needs to be on growing regional opportunities, not just “getting our fair share.” If elected, I think I will be an important voice in this conversation.I'd love to hear your thoughts on City-County partnerships.

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