A Neighbour’s Response to Neighbourhood First
Response: Neighbourhoods First, Second Edition
As a community developer, I have an interest in learning how a sense of community is formed. I often wonder why do neighbours look out for each other? How do groups of people pull through, despite difficult circumstances? How do people find belonging in a vibrant, complex city like Calgary?
In 2021 Neghbourhoods First Zine distributed by Councillor Evan Woolley (Ward 8), he calls this sense of commitment to one another a social covenant. He goes on to describe this covenant as the sometimes innate sense neighbours have to protect, express kindness and create belonging. Woolley refers to ‘sharing space with each other’ as an important piece to this social covenant.
As Calgary grows, ideas and our understanding of how neighbours can and should share space and express our neighbourliness will shape the type of city we have. At a neighbourhood level, how do we share our values in order to make them known and to feel heard? This is proving to be difficult. Our neighbourhoods are filled with varied perspectives to who can live where and how, where to express art, and even, how long and/or fast a vehicle should be on the street. It’s complex.
Councilor Woolley, points out the need to consider future generations — consider sharing space for future generations.
I couldn’t agree more. Communities that are based on a cause, hobby, location, or affiliation. Consider the community you belong to — are you making space for the future? Does your neighbourhood centre the experience of community members that will be leaders? Do we provide space for those entering our community to make change, feel heard and build confidence? Think of those people, they may be part of the solutions you’re looking for.
If making space for the future is part of the social covenant, imagine how we can improve the covenant by having more people involved, contributing and committing to the sense of neighbourliness we are in together.
Tyson Bankert, CDLI