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Published on June 20, 2024 • Last updated 13 hours ago • 3 min read
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Larry E. Clausen says civic leadership needs to come from the community. Photo by Bill Brooks/Calgary Herald
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You can take the people out of Calgary, but you can't take the city out of the people. As a Calgary native who recently semi-retired to the West Coast, I've found that many former Calgarians have a strong attachment to the city. Many follow local news and developments, and a surprising number continue to support initiatives and groups.
In conversations, former Calgary residents said they were concerned their city wasn't progressing fast enough to remain an interesting and distinctive place, and that more leadership from local residents would be needed to inspire and guide the city's future opportunities.
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Now is the time to mobilize people to take the initiative and find ways to improve the city and put it on a modern and distinctive development path. This does not mean that nothing has been done recently.
It was a wonderful experience to attend the opening of the magnificent BMO Convention Centre. This was the original concept and now the grandeur of this facility speaks volumes for Calgary's achievements. Many other successes have helped to build a great city.
The East Village is getting a world-class Downtown Library, the Music Center is inspiring young people on their musical journey, creative minds are working at the new Platform development, the renovated Glenbow Museum will soon be unveiling, and the Olympic Plaza and Performing Arts Center is undergoing a spectacular transformation.
There is much more to be done: a new events centre, enhanced C-train service, rail service to the airport and high-speed rail between Edmonton and Calgary, to name just a few. Rethinking the uses of high-rise buildings in the downtown area is essential. Sports facilities are aging, as are performing arts venues. Higher education facilities are unfortunately aging or outdated.
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Calgary has many excellent medical facilities. Having recently worked in health services on the coast, I have experienced first-hand how Calgary compares to other cities. You never know what's there until you've taken advantage of it. What I have not taken advantage of are the facilities that Calgary residents benefit from. The Southern Alberta Eye Centre, Forzani-McPhail Colon Cancer Screening Centre, McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the newly built Cancer Centre are just a few of the major facilities. Interestingly, these were developed through community leadership.
If city leaders can come together and paint an inspiring vision for what Calgary will be and how to achieve success, the city will soar. Competing interests will have to be compromised. Some very creative thinking will be required. But most importantly, great leadership from influential people will be essential.
It is easy to criticize the government for inaction, but that is an excuse. Yes, government responses are often slow and routine. But things would get done faster if national leadership took a dramatic step forward. The cautious nature of government could be pushed aside in support of adventurous national leadership.
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If we look at what other cities have done to achieve greatness, it is clear that the people must drive the vision and the possibilities, then government can get the job done.
Engaging civic leadership is hard. People are busy and less interested in civic issues than they are in business and personal issues. This is natural, but it's not a formula for developing a great city.
“What I've heard from former Calgarians is that they want to support the city. They want to see Calgary be a great city. They're happy to help. But we need a strong advocate in the community to drive the progressive development of Calgary.”
Larry E. Clausen is a semi-retired professional communicator.
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