Community Engagement Online | CreativeCITY

MAY 26TH, 2022 | SOCIAL MEDIA, COMMUNITY, ENGAGEMENT, CREATIVECITY

It's another evening with my screen populated by tiny squares and tinier faces. Despite the fatigue that usually settles in after hours online, I've had a very different experience over the last few months. You see, I'm talking about creativity in Calgary and it's hard for that conversation to get boring.

The CreativeCITY: Prosperity through the Creative Economy Ecosystem Report was published in June 2021

Since our first workshop on February 17, 2022 we've held six amazing online conversations. We're exploring CreativeCITY's four proposed strategic pillars that are aimed at making Calgary Canada's most livable city.  What's amazing about these crowds is they see the immediate connection between a thriving creative economy and a livable Calgary. They know intimately how creativity enriches their personal and professional lives. They are breaking ground in so many industries, showing that creativity isn't an "artist only" characteristic, rather, it is a mix of skills/a mindset/a perspective that opens our world up to possibilities.

Lamp for glowing face effect, check. Tea to keep me from being parched, check. Thank you cards for our amazing moderator and panelist volunteers, check check check! We're ready to roll!

Our Community Engagement and Research Manager, Elyse, gives us a taste of her recent work with the CreativeCITY community engagement workshops where Calgarians voice their feedback on CreativeCITY's proposed strategic pillars.

I'm staring at my face, glowing in the light of my desk lamp.  I slowly turn my head, watching the glare on my teeth and making sure no evidence of a hasty supper remains. 

"Anything?" I ask through bared teeth.

"Nope" replies our incredibly kind tech.

Ahem, right, time to get to work. 

The CreativeCITY: Prosperity through the Creative Economy Ecosystem Report was published in June 2021

CreativeCITY Partners:

  • Calgary Arts Development

  • Calgary Economic Development

  • City of Calgary

  • RISE UP Calgary

  • CityXLab

Check out our other blogs.

One of the privileges of being part of community conversations is hearing folks talk about how they want this strategic plan to impact themselves and their neighbours. They care deeply about the future of Calgary and its inhabitants because this is where they’ve chosen to lay down roots. They are folks you ride the C-train with. They use the same grocery stores, bike lanes, and traffic lanes as you. 

I always try to be clear that we review all the conversations and notes taken. I want folks to know that what they share in these workshops matters to us. We're still learning how to do the best possible community engagement over here, but this experience has us off to a fantastic start. While there are the regular to-do lists, every community is different, so it's not a check box process. In fact, one might say it takes creativity to do this well ;)

Now if you'll excuse me, my teeth may be clean, but I have to be sure my mic isn't picking up that bird twittering outside my window.