Creating Community by 13 Ways

We aren't talking about people who believe the Earth is flat, or that windmills cause cancer, but that doesn't mean there aren't some crazy things that municipal and community leaders don't say and believe that sounds pretty crazy. After so many years of working with communities we talk about some of those crazy things with moments of levity, frustration, confusion, and sometimes c...

Are we asking the right question when it comes to the recovery of downtowns and main streets?  Join Heather and guests, Puneeta McBryan (Executive Director of the Edmonton Downtown Business Association) and Alex Hryciw (Chair of the Edmonton Downtown Recovery Coalition) for a conversation about how communities can create a place where people want to BE. It isn't about 'return to work'...

Marketing is easy, right? Just buy a billboard or a magazine ad and people will flock to your community. Or at least that's how it works in theory. In reality, you need to know who your community really is and what it is selling, then identify who would be interested (businesses and people) in what you have to offer. If you get that far, you know who you are marketing to, where to find them, a...

We have long argued that the lack of collaboration and cooperation between, and within, communities is the plague of the 21st century. Communities that work together thrive, and those that fight and compete die. Even when we want to work together, we don't know how, and we don't know what to do. This episode dives into one example of a partnership that includes revenue sharing . . . yes, R...

This episode is about childcare; how it is evolving, what parents need these days, how important it is to the community, and how important it is to the economy. We ignored that last point until the pandemic confirmed when childcare was suddenly shut down and half the workforce couldn't come to work. Childcare is an economic issue, not just a social one. As well, we are going to talk about the need...

Ever think about what a suburb can do to your community? Kalen Anderson and Julian Faid joined Heather Thomson and Doug Griffiths to discuss the future of housing and communities.

The world is changing, and so too must the way in which we attract residents and businesses to our communities. Tulsa Remote is an innovative recruitment initiative that's embracing creative ways to attract new people and professionals while at the same time building vibrancy in the community. The results are now speaking for themselves. Listen in as Doug chats with Justin Harlan, Tulsa Remote's M...

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, artists including musicians lost the ability to present their work and perform in a live setting. But it also created new digital opportunities for them to get their music out to a much larger audience. Find out how one community builder is using innovative ways of supporting music and the local arts scene — and how it's benefitting the community as a result. Guest:...

The City of Wetaskiwin in Alberta, Canada, is leading by example when it comes to defining and working toward long-term prosperity and success. In the first Community Revival episode of 2022, members of the municipality’s leadership team discuss a recent communitywide effort to establish a 50-Year Community Vision. Listen in as they chat with Doug about the robust stakeholder engagement that infor...

On the Community Revival podcast, we regularly talk about community building, innovation, and some of the actions and initiatives communities are undertaking to adjust and adapt to a quickly changing world. In this episode, however, instead of speaking with a particular community and its solution to a specific challenge, we chat with an expert in the robotics industry who discusses some of the way...

If a community isn't willing to invest in itself, then who will? That's the question posed by Mark Nikota, an Alberta-based economic developer and passionate community builder, in this week's podcast episode. Mark discusses with Doug the importance of leading by example and investing in your community's future — as opposed to waiting for change to happen organically. He also presents specific exam...

Working at the City of Beaumont in Alberta, Canada is more than just a job; it's a lifestyle. To its Chief Administrative Officer Mike Schwirtz, building an authentic, supportive culture in which staff are mobilized and engaged is the most important task a municipal leader can undertake. But in order to do so, one must empower, encourage, and allow plenty of room for mistakes. They are, after all,...

A recent urban revitalization initiative in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada) has seen the dramatic transformation of a large underutilized space in the city's downtown core into a bustling outdoor public gathering area. In today’s episode, Puneeta McBryan, Executive Director of the city's Downtown Business Association, discusses how the addition of a few simple outdoor features and amenities can both re...

A community's ability to grow and succeed lies not in its size or its past, but in the spirit of those who understand what it truly can become. In community building, attitude is everything, and as Steve Langston — a passionate community builder from Manitoba, Canada — explains, anything is possible with a bit of vision, determination, and some solid community collaboration. Hear as he chats with...

Small towns and main streets are doing all they can to reinvigorate themselves, and are dedicating considerable time and resources to enhancing socialization, walkability, aesthetics, and other aspects of a healthy and vibrant local commercial environment. Equally as important to community sustainability, however, is the existence of a carefully planned, well-thought-out succession strategy — and...

The Canadian government has announced a plan to offer $10/day childcare for parents nationwide within five years. This will have significant effects on parents and our economy as a whole. Recently, Doug and Heather caught up with Todd Hirsch, Vice President and Chief Economist of ATB Financial, for a chat around childcare and the future of economic development. Spoiler alert: t...

In the midst of an ongoing global pandemic, an array of solar panels — 25 megawatts' worth, to be exact — appeared on 100 acres of municipally owned land in the community of Innisfail, Alberta, Canada. And as new economic realities continued to force municipalities to discover innovative solutions and alternative sources of revenue, the Town of Innisfail partnered with the private developer of the...

When we talk about community building, it's often assumed that it's up to elected officials, administration, and active citizens to get the job done. However, we often forget about the shared responsibility of companies to develop and grow the community they are apart of. In this episode, we are joined by Paul Kimmell from Avista , an award-winning US-based energy company that has baked community...

Whenever we feel like the challenges in our communities are insurmountable, we need a good success story to keep us going. And one of our favourites of all time is the success story of Raymond, AB.  As a rural town with rich pioneer history and traditional values, Raymond isn't exactly your typical candidate for innovation and change. But they are leading the way in municipal innovation with net-z...

Chambers of Commerce are the epitome of outdated municipal processes from the '80s and '90s that desperately need to be revamped. Luckily for us, the Town of Stettler in Alberta, Canada is doing away with this old model in favour of one that benefits business owners and the community instead of politicians.  We are joined today by Greg Switenky and Stacey Benjamin from the Stettler Regional Board...

Among the many things COVID-19 has disrupted, none may be as public as the shift in consumer behaviour and the ripple effects on small businesses in our communities. Despite a rise in demand for local products and services, there has been a lack of coordinated support for business owners navigating immense change.  Enter Chris Rickett and his team from Digital Main Street, who created a commu...

What would it be like to build a community from scratch? Our guests today from Innisfil, Ontario are doing exactly that.  The Orbit is a vision for the future of municipalities, one where the benefits of rural and urban living can co-exist together. The foundation of this project is centered around the different ways people live, travel, interact, play, and work in modern society. So if you w...

In a world where everything is Instagramable, it pays dividends to put beautification at the forefront of your community's economic development plans. Unfortunately, many communities across North America have yet to successfully adopt this strategy. That's why we have turned to Belinda and Taylor from Harriston Rising to learn the key takeaways and tips beneath their remarkable success in turning...

Embracing technology is essential for rural municipalities to level the playing field with large urban centres. But many fall victim to the roadblocks along the way to digital transformation such as lack of infrastructure, education, and acceptance by the public. Our very own Ashley Szakal , digital unicorn and certified robot programmer, joins Doug on the podcast today to discuss emerging trends...

They say the only constant in life is change - that couldn't be more true as a small business today. But you don't have to fear change and you don't have to go through it alone. Our guest today, Heather Thomson , is here to provide actionable support and guidance whether you are a local retailer, municipal leader, or proud local business supporter.  In today's episode, Heather shares her expe...