- What are your thoughts on the downtown revitalization plan?
- What’s more important, new development or refreshing existing homes and businesses?
- How do you feel about the transportation options currently available in our city?
- What is the solution to our traffic problem?
- If you could change one thing in our zoning code, what would it be and why?
- How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process in our town?
- How would you make important decisions?
- If elected, what three steps would you take to put our city on a firmer financial footing?
- If you received a $1 million grant to use for the city any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?
- Where are your favourite places to spend time in our town?
- What are your views on a new Recreational Centre for Airdrie?
- Okay, but what about the age-old question: will Airdrie get a hospital?
1. What are your thoughts on the downtown revitalization plan?
The City of Airdrie has invested time and money into a comprehensive plan that creates jobs and community in the city’s downtown. I have no intention of getting in the way of the great work already done.
My job would be to help the city amend its by-laws and create policy, so we can get it moving in the right direction, in ways that benefit the most citizens and businesses, while building a thriving local economy in the centre of our city – as well as a hub for events and other experiences, sooner.
The City of Airdrie has spent a lot of time and money shaping a robust downtown revitalization plan. There are many positive points to this plan that are worth celebrating and encouraging.
For any candidate to suggest they’d come in and set back this plan, would be counter-productive at this stage. Airdrie has already waited a long time for this to move forward. As your representative on city council, the best thing I can do is support the work that is already done and help guide city policy to avoid obstacles and setbacks.
Some of the best parts of the plan include encouraging more mixed access for pedestrians and cyclists while maintaining lots of road space and parking for vehicles and public transportation. This will help to drive walk-up business in our downtown. As well, there are many opportunities to create community spaces for events and temporary pop-up-style venues, meaning more for Airdronians to do and more for visitors to enjoy.
Most exciting, though, is the opportunity to create an estimated 3700 new jobs in the redeveloped downtown space. All of this will be critical in rebuilding our local economy after COVID-19 and giving Airdronians of all ages a better city and quality of life.
The next city council will need to be more effective in helping to shape policies around downtown development. For me, it will be critical that these faster approvals truly take into account everyone in the community, not just special interest groups or investors. We need to foster the creation of a downtown that works for everybody.
2. What’s more important, new development or refreshing existing homes and businesses?
Developing new housing is important to a growing city, but we need to start getting creative with alternatives to single-family developments and keeping homes affordable. We need to create hubs and neighbourhoods that are financially sustainable, and attractive to young families and young professionals. It’s also time to look at what city facilities are costing taxpayers more than they’re worth, and whether we should continue to invest in them or potentially replace them altogether.
Airdrie has been one of the fastest-growing communities in Canada for over 20 years, now. To say that we need to stop the development of new communities, that we don’t need more new homes, would make our housing market unattractive and unaffordable.
That said, accessing affordable housing is becoming more and more challenging for young families, and that is a large demographic in our city. With the effects of a slumping Alberta economy and the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more families and young adults struggle to afford to live anywhere near Calgary or Airdrie.
It is critical to include affordable housing in Airdrie’s urban planning, going forward. The current Airdrie Downtown Area Redevelopment Plan likely won’t include enough housing space to alleviate the current shortage for years to come.
By working creatively with developers, and holding them accountable, Airdrie can retain its best qualities while also embrace the neighbourhood styles that could accommodate more young professionals, students, and families. When we attract these demographics to stay in Airdrie, we increase the dollars spent within our city, stimulating the local economy, and its vibrancy and resilience. Having communities that are financially self-sufficient and lively is critical to our long-term success as a city.
Finally, I have concerns about the state of some city-owned buildings. Not only do we lack community spaces, compared to other cities our size, but the existing public buildings are getting old – the Town & Country Centre, namely, was built in the 1970s. These facilities need to be reviewed for potential upgrades and their long-term feasibility. At some point, these buildings could become very expensive to safely maintain, and that time could be sooner than we think. It would be irresponsible to expect citizens’ tax dollars to be spent maintaining old buildings that are beyond repair.
3. How do you feel about the transportation options currently available in our city?
Airdrie has a long way to go in creating safer cycling and pedestrian options for residents – whether they’re recreational users or commuters. We need to look at what can be fixed in the short term, to alleviate the pressures on our infrastructure, and look at long-term solutions and feasibility studies for alternative transportation. With so much investment in Alberta around safe cycling and rail feasibility studies, it’s an excellent time to look into our options as a city and plan for the future.
Airdrie is heavily reliant on motor vehicles; nearly 90% of transportation in our city is done by car. Our city was built for cars.
However, with the increasing cost of cars and trucks, fuel, and compounding effects on the environment, Airdrie must do more to encourage citizens to find alternative modes of transportation. With many Airdronians working flexible schedules or working from home, the idea of most households needing two cars is becoming less popular. We need to build more safe, pedestrian- and bike-friendly infrastructure and encourage higher uptake of public transportation, as a short-term focus.
But we can not just look at the next five years. The proposal to build an intercity pathway between Airdrie and Calgary should go ahead, and feasibility studies around increased transit links between Airdrie and the rest of the Calgary metro region – such as passenger rail – would be an excellent long-term focus.
4. What is the solution to our traffic problem?
Many people think solving traffic issues means building more roads or widening the ones we already have, which has been proven time and time again not to be the solution. It’s expensive and is quickly outpaced by demand. Airdrie’s main source of congestion comes from commuters, who use the entrances and exits to the QE2 highway. If we can lower that congestion by giving Airdronians more reasons to stay in the city for work and play, then we can lighten that pressure, especially during peak times.
As a citizen, I certainly get frustrated with peak traffic times. Drivers are limited as to which arteries they can use to get to their destinations. We struggle with interruptions due to the irregular train schedules which cut through the city.
The 40th Avenue overpass is badly needed but will take time to build. The fact is, we are growing faster than our roads can manage. Congestion is a sign of a bustling community, though not the most welcome one; it means people are shopping locally or are on their way back and forth to work and recreation. The solution isn’t just going to be about building new roads to resolve traffic or change the timing of traffic lights, but to create a city that is less reliant on people creating congestion in the first place. When more diverse businesses are supported and created, here, more people can work locally, shop locally, and spend locally. When my commute means I’m staying within the city, and not having to go to Calgary, I suddenly have more options for how I get around, and when.
5. If you could change one thing in our zoning code, what would it be and why?
We need to have diverse zoning for a more equitable tax base and make choices that benefit as many people as possible.
To my point above, with regards to the Downtown Area, we need to be quick to work with the administration to review and approve policies with regards to city bylaws that will impact zoning. Ultimately, focusing on diverse zoning will allow Airdrie to thrive in many ways, which can benefit many citizens and business owners. Making sure the safety, comfort, and success of our people is the most important consideration, a diverse and more equitable tax base is good for everyone.
6. How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process in our town?
We need to stop putting the responsibility for engagement on the Citizens. As a member of our city council, I’ll work to simplify our communication so that everyone can understand why what the city does, matters to you. Having an Airdrie app would be a key component of that strategy.
As a resident of Airdrie, I’ve always felt that it’s up to me to find the information I need. And whenever I’ve approached the city or its staff for help or information, I’ve found that they’re a great resource – but I’ve had to be extremely proactive. The process of finding out what you need to know can be convoluted.
If there’s one thing I hear from residents time and time again about something that the City is doing, it’s “I didn’t know” or, “this is the first time I’ve heard of this.” In response, it seems they are told they should have looked online, called the city, or that they should have watched the council meetings.
The average citizen is often too busy to watch every moment of an hours-long council meeting, and the jargon can be confusing. As a member of city council, it’s my job to communicate more with the people I represent – and for you to actually KNOW who your council is! Education and knowledge sharing are key, and I will be very active in sharing Airdrie initiatives as they become available.
There are many other Canadian cities with some great practices around better communication and citizen engagement, and one of the key ones is having a city app. I would be interested in pursuing further feasibility around this and taking the responsibility off of the citizens to “get educated,” and put the onus on council and the City to truly drive the best relationship Airdrie has ever had with its residents.
7. How would you make important decisions?
If it will benefit Airdronians, be cost-effective to maintain in the long run, with creative solutions around initial funding, I will be excited to hear all about it.
Is it needed?
How much will it cost up-front, and what are the maintenance costs?
Where will the money come from?
Who benefits from this, who might be negatively affected by this, and how will it impact the city?
These would be some of the questions I would need to be answered to support it confidently. Return on investment doesn’t always have to be hard costs and hard gains; there is a difference between value and strict dollars-and-cents costs.
8. If elected, what three steps would you take to put our city on a firmer financial footing?
Where can we make small changes right away, where are we wasting money? How will we make sure that we aren’t setting ourselves up to lose even more moving forward?
- Start small. The city needs affordable solutions and everything can’t be repaired overnight. With the provincial government cutting municipal funding initiatives, being creative will be key.
- Look for efficiencies around eliminating liabilities and expenses. Are we spending too much on ageing buildings, infrastructure, or programming that’s becoming more of an expense than we will ever get back? Are enough people benefitting from these?
- Look at long-term strategies to ensure financial solvency. Are our newly developing residential neighbourhoods creating long-term expenses for the city, in terms of providing utilities (water, sewer), infrastructure (roads and pathways) and city services (fire and police)? Or will they be planned to be financially self-sustaining? Many suburban cities across North America struggle financially when the return on investment on housing developments goes away after construction is complete, and the city is left holding the bill for all future expenses.
9. If you received a $1 million grant to use for the city any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?
Spread it out over many smaller projects that’d make the city better for people – things like safer pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure, community garden initiatives, and investments in local arts, culture, and athletic initiatives that would enhance the quality of life for Airdrie families. These small initiatives can pay off quickly, and require little financial maintenance.
I’d see what the city’s individual neighbourhoods need. Using the whole amount to bite into a single, large project isn’t the right approach. By funding a wider variety of smaller projects, the focus would not only create stronger returns on investment but would create immediate improvements in the quality of life for citizens. Building safer roads for all users, more complete neighbourhoods and easier bike and pedestrian travel opportunities would have immediate impacts on people and businesses that would last for years to come with little to no financial maintenance to the city in the long term.
10. Where are your favourite places to spend time in our town?
I live in Bayside. And, in Airdrie, if it has great food or great music and is owned by a local, I have probably spent time and money there.
I’ve lived in Bayside since 2007 with my family and absolutely love it! The walking paths, waterways, friendly neighbours, and easy access to the fabulous amenities of Bayside Village make it an amazing neighbourhood to live, work, and play! That said, we embrace the Airdrie lifestyle, and you can see us spending time at The Urban Farm Collective, Nose Creek Park, one of our delicious craft breweries, or enjoying a great meal or snack at one of our many local restaurants.
Our kids are actively involved in local sports and music and delightfully squeal when we take them to one of our many playgrounds. When it’s date night, we love finding live music, nine holes at Woodside golf before dusk, getting in a workout at Oranj, or just taking in something new whenever we can.
11. What are your views on a new Recreational Centre for Airdrie
It’s badly needed and overdue. But I’m worried that we have under-budgeted for the whole project, and am not convinced it will be built by 2025 as projected. And the longer it takes, the more expensive it will be.
Airdrie has already invested in an NSP (Neighbourhood Structure Plan) with Rocky View Schools and Mattamy Homes in the southwest quadrant of our city, in order to secure the land for a new recreation centre. A timeline of 2021-2025 to start building has been released. My concern is that the process to consult with citizens regarding what amenities they would like to see in the new centre has not begun, and the original budget is in the range of “only” 86 million dollars.
Recreational facilities of this size in other Canadian municipalities are typically double in cost. To properly fund these facilities, the city will have to move quickly and efficiently to explore and take advantage of as many funding avenues as possible while working to keep it affordable and on time. The longer it takes the city to confirm plans and start building, the greater the price tag will be.
The saying “time is money” has never been more important here. Historically, Airdrie has missed opportunities for additional funding from our Provincial and Federal governments for public projects like these. To me, that money will be given to a city anyway, so it may as well come to ours.
12. Okay, but what about the age-old question: will Airdrie get a hospital?
We need one, and we’re the largest city in Alberta without one. But the City can’t just build it though. Long-term planning and dedicated, feisty advocacy will be required by every stakeholder in Airdrie if we want to convince the province to build one here. But yes, I’m team hospital.
First, the decision of whether or not to build a hospital is made by the Alberta provincial government. But, it is our MLA(s) who represent Airdrie, the mayor and city council, who must take the lead in advocating for this kind of needed facility on our behalf.
Do I believe Airdrie should have a hospital? Absolutely, I do. We are the largest city in Alberta, if not all of Western Canada, to not have one. One example of this pressing need is the number of Airdrie mothers who are choosing to do home births, here -not necessarily because it’s how they envision their birth experience, but because they are afraid they won’t make it to a hospital in Calgary and will give birth on Deerfoot Trail or at Rocky View’s Balzac fire station. Both of these examples have happened, just recently.
There are long-running claims that there is a plan to put a large hospital in the north end of Calgary, which would better serve Airdrie. Alberta Health Services has identified a long-term desire to build such a facility, and the developer of the Keystone community has set aside land at the intersection of Centre Street and 144th Avenue. But AHS has not picked up this property, nor confirmed that they would build a hospital there in the foreseeable future. It’s potentially decades away.
According to Alberta Health Services, there are 106 Acute Care Hospitals in our province. With a population of over 4.3 million in Alberta, that equates roughly to one hospital per 41,000 people. With Airdrie growing so rapidly, we will double that number in only a few short years.
To say that Airdrie has the density and need to serve our community and the populations that surround it via a community hospital is an understatement. While it is not the city’s job to build a hospital, it is my job as a city representative to question, advocate, and ensure that we have no obstacles or reasons for the province to deny us proper medical facilities.
For example, Red Deer was allocated 100 million dollars by the Alberta Government to expand and re-develop its current Hospital in 2019. This was a result of a 2015 Major Capital Needs Assessment. Unfortunately, looking at the City of Airdrie’s plans and strategies, there are no indications or recommendations that could help us align with the province in getting further funding or advocacy. If we want to see sufficient support within the next 10 years to even begin this process, the time is now.