Building an uplifting city

I never expected my final State of the City to be delivered in an empty ballroom, without the energy of a crowd of Edmontonians. Like many of you attending weddings and graduation ceremonies virtually, my address was also a safe, virtual experience. And like you, I miss the people and the crowds and the joy of gathering and celebrating together. But I am glad that this experience saw attendees safely in their homes.

Over the last 14 years that I sat on Edmonton City Council, I have met remarkable Edmontonians and their incredible work to build and uplift our city. And my address focused on just that — the real city builders. I focused on the work Edmontonians have done over the past two terms to build a more uplifting city by increasing Edmonton’s ambition, inclusiveness, and economic and climate resilience.

Edmontonians have worked together to uplift each other despite the challenge of nearly a decade of austerity, economic hardship and community tragedies through innovative problem solving and a strong sense of community. What else are we here for, if not to uplift one another?

Some of the exciting city building accomplishments:

• Historic Expansion of Edmonton’s LRT network: Over the past seven years the City of Edmonton has undertaken the largest build out of the LRT network that any City Council has done in the history of Edmonton. This work will fundamentally enhance Edmontonians mobility, alleviate traffic congestion, and spur new economic and residential developments. The many years spent advocating for a permanent transit fund, which was finally announced by the federal government in February 2021, further cements the City’s goals to improve its sustainability over the longer term and generally enhance Edmonton’s livability via a build out of its public transit network.
• Maintaining financial management excellence during a pandemic while providing ratepayers with much-needed tax relief: Edmonton was one of the first cities in Canada to make changes to the municipal budget in response to COVID-19. This has involved tough decisions about trimming costs and reducing the workforce, while directing resources to help the business community and other sectors weather the economic impact. Standard and Poors has maintained the City’s AA credit rating during the pandemic. This is particularly significant, given how this once-in-a-century-scale pandemic has caused upheaval for civic finances — just as it has for many Edmontonians.
• The growing diversification of Edmonton’s economy as highlighted by the success stories of Bitcoin Well, Growing Green Innovations, Chandos Construction, Stantec, Entos Pharmaceuticals, and the work of Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute. In 2020 alone, more than $246 million of capital flowed into the Edmonton Region’s tech companies. With the restructuring of Innovate Edmonton and injection of new resources to support our tech economy, Council is stepping up to the calls from entrepreneurs to help.
• Work the City has done to address societal inequities — specifically its work on the issues of homelessness, systemic racism, poverty and policing and community safety. As Edmontonians, we must continue to lean into these uncomfortable conversations. We need to take meaningful steps to dismantle inequity. Because it’s the only way to move forward together and build a stronger city. An inclusive city — one that’s equitable and safe for everyone.
• The City’s work on addressing climate change through the City of Edmonton’s Energy Transition Strategy, which ensures that by 2050 Edmonton will have balanced its carbon budget and fully transitioned to net-zero on emissions while generating a new era of economic development along the way. Our Energy Transition plan is as much a plan for jobs as it is a climate response.
• A new era of economic collaboration among municipalities in the Edmonton Metro Region as outlined in the Collaborative Economic Development initiative, the work of Edmonton Global, the Regional Growth Plan and the Regional Transit Commission.

Edmonton’s success is tied to so much more than the price of oil. If you’re a young person today thinking about where to build your life and chase your dream and start your family, there is no better place in Canada to do that today than the Edmonton Metro Region.

By 2050, Edmonton will have balanced its carbon budget, transitioned to net-zero emissions, and generated a new era of economic development along the way anchored in our long-standing connection to energy, but with a dynamic and strategic position in new energy markets.  

Our community is already pursuing these pathways.

Notably Edmonton International Airport, which is only Canada’s third organization and the world’s first airport to sign the international climate pledge. They’re on track to be net-zero by 2040.  

Stantec, headquartered in downtown’s Ice District, has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2022 on its path to ultimately net-zero status across its vast global operations by 2030. And they have the technical leadership others will need to make this transition with. 

Or take longtime leader Reza Nasseri, who founded Landmark Homes decades ago. Even after establishing the company, he’s not been content to coast. Instead, he’s continually innovated when it comes to delivering net-zero homes — and, all along, being a strong, tireless supporter of community causes, including giving millions to the U of A’s Nasseri School of Building Science and Engineering. He’s laying the groundwork to grow generations to come of pioneers, innovators, dreamers and entrepreneurs. 

And we’ve got a whole new generation of developers who are wholeheartedly embracing the concept of sustainable and emissions-neutral building. People like Tegan Martin-Drysdale who, years ago, presented to City Council on what would eventually become Blatchford. 

Fast forward many years later, there’s Tegan, sitting in one of the beautiful net-zero townhomes that she has built on the Blatchford site. She didn’t just call for change. She believed in the opportunity. She saw a need and she started up a company to build it.  

This is Edmonton today.  

Youthful, energetic, adventurous, unconventional. 

Edmonton has found its voice. We’re carving out our niche. It has endured and it’ll endure. We’re going to rise out of this pandemic, assuming a clever, captivating and confident place in Canada.

I’m proud of Edmonton and Edmontonians. I’m excited about the next great chapter of our region’s story and evolution. 

And to Edmontonians I say this: Thank you for giving me the chance to lead such an industrious, inventive and incredible group of people. You have challenged me. You have inspired me. You have helped me grow as a person. You will forever have a special place in my heart. I’ll repeat what I said seven years ago: Edmontonians are the real city builders of Edmonton. 

My final message? Keep on building.