'Next Gen' Making Edmonton a City of Choice
Friday March 03, 2006
Christine Causing

Next Generation Task Force

In the fall of 2005, under the leadership of Councillors Kim Krushell and Michael Phair, the Next Generation Task Force was created. This Task Force is a voluntary committee comprised of 20 individuals who are working towards understanding how Edmonton can be more attractive to the next generation and how it can keep them here! This Task Force aims to put Edmonton on the map and to identify ways to encourage the voice of the next generation to be heard and take an active role in the growth and development of our community!

Currently the Task Force has divided itself into 6 working groups. These six working groups will reach out and engage a diverse cross section of Next Gen Edmontonians in the process of developing theme-specific ideas and recommendations for action. These will address how Edmonton can become a city of choice for the next generation, and may be included in the Next Gen Final Task Force Report & Recommendations to be presented to City Council in Spring 2006.


Next Generation Working Groups

Focus

Image: This working group will examine the marketing strategies that promote our municipality regionally, nationally, and globally. What can we do to make professionals want to work in Edmonton, and businesspeople invest here? What could make our brand more powerful in attracting individuals, families, and corporations?

Urban Living: This working group will focus on issues of urban design and development as a way of making Edmonton more appealing to youth. What can be done to make our downtown more attractive, both before and after 5:00pm Transit, parks, architecture, suburban expansion, zoning, and development policies are all on the table.

Arts and Culture: This working group will look into the development and promotion of Edmonton's artistic and cultural community. What can be done to assist local artists, and support cultural groups? How can artistic opportunities be used to cultivate a desirable urban environment?

Sports and Recreation: We are excited about the creation of this new working group, which will look specifically into sporting and recreational opportunities in our city. What can be done to enhance recreational opportunities, and to bring sport to the wider community? How can physical recreation enhance quality of life in Edmonton?

Human Capital: This working group studies the opportunities presented by education, volunteerism and skills-development as a way of improving quality of life and the attractiveness of Edmonton. How can we work with educational institutions, trades, research organizations, and corporations to build a working environment in which companies want to invest, and individuals want to participate?

Opportunities: This working group seeks means of encouraging entrepreneurship and economic development in the city. What would help people choose Edmonton as a place to start a business, build a practice, or make investments? What can the city do to cultivate productive partnerships within and between the business community and other parts of our community?

Engaging the Community

In February, 6 workshops were held on these themes to solicit input from the community about what Edmonton needs to do to further develop, improve and sustain itself as a vibrant city.

At the Arts and Culture Workshop, there were 50 participants representing various organizations and occupations with diverse backgrounds such as graphic designers, visual artists, playwrights, music promoters, actors, singers, arts administrators as well people who attend arts and cultural events. Great ideas about Edmonton arts and culture scene were generated at the workshop.

A series of follow-up workshop are scheduled for this month. At these workshops, participants will be asked to help form concrete recommendations of action.

For more information on the Next Generation Task Force and the exciting events it will be hosting please visit the website www.edmontonnextgen.ca or you can contact Christine Causing: ccausing@edmonton.com.
 

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