From the time when I first moved to Edmonton, I have enjoyed the abundant parks and green spaces available to all Edmontonians.
Today, our biodiversity is in crisis. I believe preserving, restoring, and enhancing our natural environment is essential to build the Edmonton we want. The natural environments in our city are not just beautiful; they are essential to our health, well-being and competitive advantage and we must take action to protect them.
We must also always remember that our community spaces, including many of our prized natural places, are areas of significance for Indigenous communities, and we need to recognize that history and significance in everything we do. That recognition means we must be stewards of the land to ensure our river valley is protected for today and for future generations.
As Mayor, I will work with Indigenous community members to ensure traditional knowledge informs the preservation and restoration of our natural spaces, both in the river valley and beyond. This includes the area around Rossdale and any development that might occur in that area.
I will also advocate for the full Big Island/Woodbend area in the southwest of Edmonton to be protected through provincial action in collaboration with the Enoch Cree Nation.
Parks are not only spaces for recreation and gathering, but they are also important for reducing the urban heat island effect, which can turn deadly with more and more incidences of extreme temperature.
Today, two-thirds of Edmontonians live within a 10-minute walk from a natural park area; within 10 years we must ensure all Edmontonians have this access. I will work with City Council to find ways to invest in community parks and greenspace that reduce heat massing while, creating spaces for Edmontonians to gather, play and enjoy nature close to home. Enhancing access to community green spaces is key to building the 15-minute city.
Using my previous experience as a federal minister, I will work with key partners, including Indigenous communities and regional municipalities, to engage the federal government in creating an urban national park in Edmonton. The designation of our river valley as a national park will allow us to access federal funds for its protection and elevate our valley’s deserved national reputation as a beautiful place to experience nature in the midst of our city.
Everyone should be able to access all that our river valley has to offer. To ensure accessibility, river valley trails must be repaired quickly. As Mayor, I’ll work with the City Council to direct Administration to set benchmarks for trail repairs and work to improve response time to incidents and requests year-over-year.
As the threat of climate change grows, access to local food sources will only become more vital to our economy and our health. I will redirect resources to create Community Food Coordinator roles at the City, individuals who will work with Edmontonians including racialized and Indigenous communities to address food insecurity, and build capacity in both the food system and individuals’ knowledge, building on initiatives like Veg Instead.
In tandem with our focus on accessible green spaces, we can work with the Community Food Coordinators and community partners to ensure Community Gardens are accessible to every area and diverse communities, in line with the 15-minute city principles. Developing global partnerships on local agriculture, such as the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, will also help us to grow our local garden capacity and find innovative ways to grow more food locally year-round.
This is the most important challenge of our time. I know we can rise to the challenge together and we must work together to protect our natural environment and build a better future for all of us.
