Theme - Connectedness

What You Said

People services connect us to each other.

You expressed a tremendous desire to build strong connections across cultures, across generations, across communities, across interests and across the region. This was your most prominent theme throughout the fall public consultations.

You said communities are very important. Communities can be geographic, cultural, spiritual or interest based.

You value city programs and services that are affordable and accessible to residents of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

You want the City of Edmonton to create spaces, places and programs where we can get to know each other better.

You said:

• People services must encourage residents of all ages and abilities to meet, greet, play and build community together.
• Let's break down cultural barriers, let's create destinations where people gather to do things and reach out to people of all ages to include them in the life of our city.
• Use the schools and the other public buildings in our neighbourhoods as community building places to meet and greet each other.
• Treasure our parks, river valley system and off leash areas. They bring us together.
• Let's have more activity in public spaces to attract and connect people.
• A convenient and accessible transit system physically connects people and communities.

We care about each other.

Caring communities that help people with affordable housing and transportation, counselling and preventative social services, and cultural celebrations are important to you.

You value the work of our not for profit sector in creating caring communities.

You called for sustaining and revitalizing older Edmonton neighbourhoods, increasing multi-generational connections and extending a warm and welcoming hand to new arrivals to our city.

You championed our festivals, arts and cultural events as a way of getting people together. Give us more, you said, particularly in winter. We are, after all, a northern city and we want opportunities to connect and celebrate our northern heritage.

You reminded us that up to one third of residents live alone and that City programs and services need to acknowledge our changing demographics and expand to meet the needs of individuals as well as families. And you said we're an aging population, so keep that in mind as well.