As a Rundle kid and graduate of Pearson High School, I definitely witnessed the same stigma described by the author of the CBC story (linked here). Now that I’m older and I’ve been a city councillor representing the area for nearly a year, I can’t help but think there’s something fundamentally and systemically missing in municipal policy-making that creates this perception the northeast is not a desirable place to live or visit for anyone else but newcomers.
And it is just a perception. But what created that?
We need to have serious and significant conversations to build upon recent successes but also to guide more equitable and inclusive city building moving forward. Whether it’s community planning or service delivery, all efforts must be made to erase the stigma for all.
As the Ward 5 councillor I’m looking forward to having more of these conversations with my colleagues and support policy-making decisions that will build a city where all Calgarians will feel they belong here.