Importance of Shared spaces as a mean to strengthen our communities.

Shared spaces such as libraries, parks, community leagues, non profit organizations, museums, recreational centers among others, play a crucial role in civic life.

These shared spaces are essential places to forge and strengthen a sense of community in Edmonton. These are places where people gather and linger making friends across group lines, gaps are bridged and common purpose can be found.

When this “social structure” is strong, neighborhoods flourish; when it is neglected, families and individuals feel alienated and our collective suffers.

Leveraging this social structure we can help mitigate and solve some of our most pressing challenges: isolation, crime, education, addiction, political polarization and even climate change.

As a city councilor I want to make sure that these “social structures” are encouraged and fostered.

I want to see all these spaces being used to their maximum capacity in order to help create a strong social structure for our communities. I do believe Edmonton Public Libraries is making headway in that direction. I would love to keep the momentum going. In the last 4 years the EPL has been very good in doing the best they can with what they have but I feel specially post Covid, it will need some investment if we want our city to grow. I would also like to see some attention given to the smaller community branches. Ward Dene does have a small branch in McConachie that could use some looking into. That branch has outgrown its space.