THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY to reflect and share my thoughts on the importance of building an inclusive and resilient Lethbridge. It is no secret that cities across North America have seen an increase in divisiveness over the last several years. To combat this trend, it is vital that we embrace diversity as something that can make us stronger, rather than pull us apart.
As Lethbridge continues to grow, we want to attract new people to our community. We can do this by showcasing our cultural vibrancy as something that sets us apart from others. We want to welcome new employees, visitors and residents, and we want students at both Lethbridge Polytechnic and the University of Lethbridge to feel at home and want to stay in Lethbridge after graduation. I’m also very proud of the work we’ve done to welcome new Canadians to Lethbridge and hope we can continue to build on those efforts.
The City Council’s job is to make decisions that bring the most benefit to our residents. To make these important decisions, we need to hear from the many diverse perspectives that make up our community.
“Is vital that we embrace diversity as something that can make us stronger, rather than pull us apart.”
– Mayor Hyggen, City of Lethbridge
The real challenge through our community engagement efforts is to make space for all of these voices. This takes time and resources. We specifically recognize that marginalized groups may not feel comfortable or even safe in engaging with the City.
Here are some important things we are working on to make public participation safe and inviting:
Improve Access.
It’s not always convenient for individuals to give their feedback on important municipal matters. Making it easier for everyone is an important step. This includes providing both online and in-person options, meeting residents in places they are already at, being authentic in what we are asking and explaining how that feedback can impact decisions. To do this, we look to be involved in community and cultural events where we can chat with a wide variety of people. The City also hosts large engagement events called Community Conversations that bring together all projects that require community feedback and put them in one location, on one day. This means you can come to give your thoughts on one topic, but end up learning about 10 other things happening in the City. Our Community Conversations help bring in a cross-section of diverse voices to all of our engagements in an easy and accessible way.
Target Engagements.
This involves being purposeful in our planning to identify the important groups we may not be hearing from. We can be more balanced by creating specific events that invite in the voices that are not reflected in our broad public engagement. By working with organizations like BIPOC Foundation, Reconciliation Lethbridge, Pride, our post-secondary institutions and organizations that welcome newcomers, like Lethbridge Family Services, we can target our engagement to be more inclusive. Directly engaging with individuals in these less represented groups ensures they feel included and that their opinions are respected and valued.
Celebrate Diversity.
The more we talk about our diversity, the more we can embrace it. Celebrations and acknowledgements of diversity break down walls, open doors, and build trust. A great example of this is the recent Reconciliation Awards hosted at City Hall as part of the Reconciliation Week events in September. This amazing event honoured individuals helping to advance our city’s efforts in Truth and Reconciliation. It also included a traditional Indigenous round dance that invited members of the public to join in. I was personally inspired and grateful to be a part of this event.
Close the Loop.
Nobody wants to give feedback if they feel like it won’t make a difference. We need to show all residents how the programs and services from the City of Lethbridge impact their daily lives and how their feedback can have an impact. As we compile and analyze community feedback, the information often results in a “what we heard” report that is shared with the City Council. We use this as one of the very important data points that get layered together to make good decisions for everyone in our community.
The beautiful thing about community engagement is that it not only helps you be heard, but it also helps everyone around you hear different perspectives. You might have questions about why something is done the way it is, and when you can hear how another person interacts with that City program or service, you can see how vastly different our experiences can be.
One of the most insightful parts of being mayor is engaging with residents and hearing their perspectives. This is where I learn what people love most about Lethbridge, what is important to them and their families and what keeps them up at night. The really interesting thing is, despite all of our different backgrounds and experiences, there is often common ground where we can find mutual agreement. When we find that commonality, in a respectful way, that is where the magic happens. That is where we find unity and success for our community.
We know change is inevitable. We are no longer a small town, but a growing and thriving city. We need to make our people a part of that change. When we are engaged and invested in what happens, we all benefit. My promise to everyone reading this is – your voice matters. Your thoughts, opinions and concerns are valued, and we, as the leaders of this City, want and need to hear them. As we continue to improve and explore new ways to be more inclusive, I invite you to be part of these important conversations so we can build the very best Lethbridge for everyone.
