Global interview with Mayor Mandel

[RichardS]

...on the perception of our city internationally...


http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/vide...p=1&s=dd#video

...thoughts...

PS...Mr. Mayor...I trademarked gud e'nuff...

[piglet]

you know what? ....I really like Mr. Mandel. I think he is doing an awesome job as Mayor of our fine city!!!

[Montrosian]

Originally Posted by piglet

you know what? ....I really like Mr. Mandel. I think he is doing an awesome job as Mayor of our fine city!!!

Likewise. This city has progressed a lot under his leadership.

[RichardS]

While I'm sure he will enjoy the compliments, the thread is about the comments on our perception...

[Chmilz]

He nails it. I wonder if the problem is that administration isn't on board, in respect to delivering that message? When I travel and people ask about Edmonton, the points he makes are the ones I make: environmental responsibility, waste management, park systems, culture, festivals... the list goes on.

But he's right, I'm not the average guy. Most Edmontonians downplay or apologize for the perceived negatives when they should be standing a bit taller, sweeping those lame stereotypes off to the side, and talking about what we do great.

It's funny when they talk about cold, and the one guy pipes in "so is New York". I've used that exact line when talking to Americans when I'm in Mexico. They say it's cold, and I reply that it's not much colder than New York or Chicago, one being the worlds foremost megacity, and the other about to join the list of megacities.

[armin]

Art Galleries and Rec Centres are only one small aspect. If you want to measure happiness, you have to look beyond simple factors like that and look at everything that helps make people's lives more enjoyable, productive, safe, etc...

I'd argue that the raised taxes and high cost of living is doing harm to our city, as well the unconstrained growth that threatens to plummet the minute the oil industry wanes, or the real estate bubble bursts.

[Rocket252]

I keep saying this all along - Edmonton does not have an identity and thus it is not "cool" or "sexy" to live in this city. I know family and friends who have moved to Van or Calgary because they have feel those cities are "happening" and cool to live in. You ask me how Edmonton can change? Well that is the $64000 question. People want to come here because we have a good waste management system? Right.

[The_Cat]

Unfortunately, Edmonton does not show much in the way of leadership. Sure, we have people coming here to work, but many of them have little interest in learning about our city.

[The_Cat]

I think of the people that have started the Fringe, Klondike Days, or other events that add to the quality of life in Edmonton. *These people worked hard to build our city, and to enhance our city's identity. *It is a vision, combined with hard work, that gets things done.

[Thomas Hinderks]

From a review of "Who killed Canadian History"

http://www.amazon.ca/Who-killed-Cana.../dp/0006386075

This book warns that a frightening future awaits Canada if we continue down a path towards historical amnesia. Functional literacy may be declining due to television and popular culture, but historical consciousness is also threatened with extinction. Granatstein argues that we can have no confidence in ourselves as a nation if we do not understand our past.

Substitute Edmonton and City for Canada and Nation and you have the problem.

I recommend reading the whole review, or better yet the book.

We destroy our history, hide it, mask it and refuse to acknowledge it...chase silver bullets and then wonder why we have no identity.

We fail to celebrate our successes and heros, then wonder why no one gives credit.

My 2 bits...and by the book and reviews others as well

[Rocket252]

We have no identity and nothing more symbolizes this then our upcoming Capital X which is meaningless and has no connection to this city at all. Terrible idea and attendence figures to match

and another thing that i really feel turns people off from this city is the terrible downtown we still have. I was at WEM (hate that place) over the weekend and all those fancy high end stores should be located in a cities downtown core - not in the boonies. Yes maybe the arena and associated construction will help but we are too late - we lost the battle already and the perception is there of this city being a runner up to others.

[grish]

Originally Posted by RichardS

While I'm sure he will enjoy the compliments, the thread is about the comments on our perception...

Richard,
May I suggest you alter the title to reflect that. As it stands, the thread seems to solicit comments about the interview and Mr. Mandel.

[IanO]

Originally Posted by Rocket252

I keep saying this all along - Edmonton does not have an identity and thus it is not "cool" or "sexy" to live in this city. I know family and friends who have moved to Van or Calgary because they have feel those cities are "happening" and cool to live in. You ask me how Edmonton can change? Well that is the $64000 question. People want to come here because we have a good waste management system? Right.

If I had a $1 for this with many of my friends, to quote the BNLs, 'i'd be rich!'

[RichardS]

Originally Posted by Rocket252

We have no identity and nothing more symbolizes this then our upcoming Capital X which is meaningless and has no connection to this city at all. Terrible idea and attendence figures to match

(...).

Interesting...but let me challenge that...

Is it the fact that we have no identity...OR...is it the fact that we are afraid of our identity and are trying so darn hard to change it to something we think is better?

CapEx...a generic, allegedly catch-all, non offending brand that said all, but nothing. It didn't leave out Sherwood Park, but didn't really include them either. It didn't theme itself, but became a theme in spite of itself ..a theme of lost identity and confusion. It said it all, without saying a lot...the most unintentional metephor ever.

...add a new parade float...an amorphous blob of helium filled identity crisis that takes hours to explain and still does not say Edmonton - even if the name is on the side. ...for if it takes an hour to explain the joke...it isn't funny...

...now it would have made a great centerpiece in a larger display/float...the artistic representation of our location and topography...combined with other things that make up Edmonton...and voila, you'd actually see our identity appear...

...and yes, a one ton welding truck and other tradespeople tools are included...I am not ashamed to be from a diverse working city that houses professionals in both the trades and the management professional world...and there are just as many things to poke fun of in the arts and professional world as there is in the trades world...the arts world has a few of their own bull testicles hanging from trailer receivers...


...all this dodging our identity exposes the sore tooth...and naysayers like to poke at our sore tooth...hence why the cold, and the boring, and the redneck jokes seem to come up...

...calgary learned not to make apologies for its "stampede" theme...

[Thomas Hinderks]

It didn't theme itself, but became a theme in spite of itself ..a theme of lost identity and confusion. It said it all, without saying a lot...the most unintentional metephor ever.

Well said

So busy trying to be everyone else we lost ourselves

[Komrade]

I think History and knowing your past is huge. Give something people to be proud out.

No how many kids in Beverly dont have a clue about Beverlys history?

We have a whole generation of kids who know nothing of the Gretzky years

Edmontons identity comes from our past, and how we apply it towards our future.

Give the average Edmontonian something to be proud about. If you are a proud Edmontonian, share your pride, help build the culture of your city.

Stop posting about the lack of it on a message board and go CREATE!

[Rocket252]

Originally Posted by RichardS

Interesting...but let me challenge that...

Is it the fact that we have no identity...OR...is it the fact that we are afraid of our identity and are trying so darn hard to change it to something we think is better?

CapEx...a generic, allegedly catch-all, non offending brand that said all, but nothing. It didn't leave out Sherwood Park, but didn't really include them either. It didn't theme itself, but became a theme in spite of itself ..a theme of lost identity and confusion. It said it all, without saying a lot...the most unintentional metephor ever.

...add a new parade float...an amorphous blob of helium filled identity crisis that takes hours to explain and still does not say Edmonton - even if the name is on the side. ...for if it takes an hour to explain the joke...it isn't funny...

...now it would have made a great centerpiece in a larger display/float...the artistic representation of our location and topography...combined with other things that make up Edmonton...and voila, you'd actually see our identity appear...

...and yes, a one ton welding truck and other tradespeople tools are included...I am not ashamed to be from a diverse working city that houses professionals in both the trades and the management professional world...and there are just as many things to poke fun of in the arts and professional world as there is in the trades world...the arts world has a few of their own bull testicles hanging from trailer receivers...


...all this dodging our identity exposes the sore tooth...and naysayers like to poke at our sore tooth...hence why the cold, and the boring, and the redneck jokes seem to come up...

...calgary learned not to make apologies for its "stampede" theme...

Edmonton in relative terms is a young city - a few hundred years - so what really is our identity?

What are we and what do we have that shapes us?

- a northern city (cold climate)(gateway to the north)
- oil (to some a bad word these days)
- agriculture & Forestry
- immigration (how the various ethnic groups that arrived built this area)
- history related to aviation and war - Alaska highway, Wop May, Max Ward

Or should we incorporate our identity within a region - Northern Alberta (Northland) with Edmonton as the center?

- a great northern city surrounded by farmland, mountains, forests - free, peaceful, safe and prosperous.

Maybe a combination of the two but in any event I agree we should not hide behind our identity but embrace it for what it is. We have a great city and have to project that outward to the world.

[Thomas Hinderks]

What are we and what do we have that shapes us?

- a northern city (cold climate)(gateway to the north)
- oil (to some a bad word these days)
- agriculture & Forestry
- immigration (how the various ethnic groups that arrived built this area)
- history related to aviation and war - Alaska highway, Wop May, Max Ward

Taking the same general point but phrasing it positively
- Gateway to the North...making possible the opening of Northern Western Canada
- Feeding and Housing Albertans
- Providing the Energy that powers Canada's economy
- Leading the world in aviation transportation & technologies with para-rescue, medivac, air cargo, polar routes and ability to serves remote locations.
- A legacy of heroes in the service of Canada and humanitarians

A couple hundred years is not that young, little older than Calgary, little younger than Eastern centres.

[The_Cat]

I think Mandel had an outstanding speech today!

[AngryWhiteMan]

Originally Posted by The_Cat

I think Mandel had an outstanding speech today!

Agreed. I was about to go crazy after someone asked about using some sort of "plastic" exterior, like on the "butterdome"... deal is still a bit half assed, but the mayor is top notch!

[Kenn]

I find it more than a bit ironic that a three-term mayor is lamenting that we haven't been able to "get the word out about our city." Who is ultimately responsible for this failure?

The bottom line is that Mandel has not been able to elevate local or national perception of Edmonton. I know some people at EEDC who say that Mandel's office is the root of the problem.

[kcantor]

Originally Posted by Kenn

I find it more than a bit ironic that a three-term mayor is lamenting that we haven't been able to "get the word out about our city." Who is ultimately responsible for this failure?

The bottom line is that Mandel has not been able to elevate local or national perception of Edmonton. I know some people at EEDC who say that Mandel's office is the root of the problem.

although full disclosure would include noting there are some people at - as well as not at - eedc who would say that it is eedc who has been unable to fulfill what is their mandate. the role in question is only a small part of a mayor's mandate but a major part of eedc's. irony indeed...

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Originally Posted by RichardS

PS...Mr. Mayor...I trademarked gud e'nuff...

Ample proof that the mayor follows C2E. Behave, kids!

[jagators63]

City here needs lots of work to promote its identity of Edmonton all over Canada and around the world but otherwise, it is a long way to go for this city.

[Chmilz]

Originally Posted by kcantor

although full disclosure would include noting there are some people at - as well as not at - eedc who would say that it is eedc who has been unable to fulfill what is their mandate. the role in question is only a small part of a mayor's mandate but a major part of eedc's. irony indeed...

No kidding. The Mayor's job is to run the city. EEDC's job is to develop Edmonton and its image. If the latter isn't being done, who's fault is it? EEDC is a total waste of our tax dollars.

[McBoo]

Originally Posted by Kenn

... I know some people at EEDC who say that Mandel's office is the root of the problem.

Must_Stop_Laughing.

Shortest list in the world is that of EEDC's successes and/or contributions to this city.

Oh man, thanks for that post - still laughing, may giggle all week.

[sweetcrude]

I think Mandel is generally correct. It's painful to generalize, but I would say, unfortunately, that a majority of people I know are more interested in achieving personal material goals than having any interests larger than themselves. Building community or fighting for necessary infrastructure / services seems only to be an afterthought.

Are we overlooked? Sure.

To be honest, I tire of this discussion. We are overlooked and what do we do about it? From where I'm standing, we don't do much other than moan about it. Perhaps we need more than bean-counters at leadership levels in civic administration. As Mandel properly points out, our priorities over time have been skewed and have become unacceptable in some areas. Anyone with a "good enough" attitude should be questioned.

[Kenn]

I believe most citizens (including EEDC staff) would agree that EEDC's influence, respect and deliverables have significantly diminished in recent years. Hopefully this will improve with the new CEO.

But keep in mind that Mandel is an EEDC board member and the key to EEDC's funding. Moreover, EEDC's strategic economic development goals do not address the 'good enough local attitude' that Mandel is helplessly lamenting.

After nearly a decade as mayor, where is Mandel's plan to address his concerns about 'good enough' Edmontonians?

[McBoo]

EEDC certainly once (and oh so sadly so) had influence and once had (but certainly hardly ever deserved) respect.

As to delivering anything of consequence? EEDC hasn't done anything of consequence, let alone significance in my lifetime - which covers many mayors.

This is a sad, petty, old-boys club that should immediately lose any taxpayer funding it receives and lose its contract to (mis)manage the Conference Centre.

By all means, let's have a juried request for proposals to do what EEDC is supposed to - with a schedule of deliverables.

Think the present pack could even put together a bid, let alone one that would be successful?

Pffft

[The_Cat]

I think the EEDC should rebuild from the ground up:

(1) A new vision, mission statement and values.

(2) A new constitution, defining the scope of responsibilities and deliverables.

(3) A 3-5 year business plan.

I think something like this would give EEDC a direction.

[ThomasH]

Originally Posted by Kenn

I believe most citizens (including EEDC staff) would agree that EEDC's influence, respect and deliverables have significantly diminished in recent years. Hopefully this will improve with the new CEO.

But keep in mind that Mandel is an EEDC board member and the key to EEDC's funding. Moreover, EEDC's strategic economic development goals do not address the 'good enough local attitude' that Mandel is helplessly lamenting.

After nearly a decade as mayor, where is Mandel's plan to address his concerns about 'good enough' Edmontonians?

The mayor is just one person among a million. Unless we make him a dictator with unlimited powers there is only so much one person can do.

Perhaps it's time Edmontonians stop thinking about what Edmonton can do for them and start thinking about what they can do for Edmonton.

[ThomasH]

Perhaps it's time for the city to put forward a volunteer incentive program that rewards volunteers for doing something for the city.

[jagators63]

Originally Posted by The_Cat

I think the EEDC should rebuild from the ground up:

(1) A new vision, mission statement and values.

(2) A new constitution, defining the scope of responsibilities and deliverables.

(3) A 3-5 year business plan.

I think something like this would give EEDC a direction.

also arm length from the city hall