Innovative strategies for growth and sustainability

It all begins with culture

You have heard it said that “culture eats strategy for breakfast” and I believe it is true, especially when it comes to community development. To have healthy and thriving communities that attract investment, encourage entrepreneurs, and bring joy to people we need to be focused on 5 key metrics: accessibility, space, diversity, green & sustainable, and character & identity. Too often councillors, politicians and even people on the street corner maintain a view that we are waiting for someone to come to save us. For the federal government to do something or the provincial government to change something. The reality is that we have everything we need right here to begin solving the problems we face, we just need to learn how to “see” what we have.

If Covid-19 has taught us one thing it is that people want to live in cities like Saint John. Small, affordable, and packed with intrigue. As Saint John’ers we don’t often see what we have and it is up to our leaders to help remind us, be strong ambassadors, and to manoeuvre the flows of development (when they come) toward the areas that need them most. I believe that by strategically investing in things like:

·       active transportation infrastructure (things like bike lanes),

·       redeveloping streets to be pedestrian-friendly (road diets)

·       focusing on where there is inertia to start the implementation of the above ideas

·       finding new areas to promote Saint John as a “go-to” city for those looking to leave large urban centers like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver

·       developing new policies to help non-profits and charities to dovetail with the City of SJ and leverage this partnership to tackle problems head-on and increase our funding potentials,

·       unlocking the potential of groups like the Saint John Land Bank and Saint John Energy to truly bring value to Saint John, return dividends, and help revitalization efforts.

·       And developing a broad transit strategy that includes a locally made ridesharing service that integrates taxis, busses, ride-sharing, and car-sharing.

I know what you are asking, “where are you going to get the money for all of that?!” It isn’t about funding ALL of this tomorrow. After all, how did we build things like Harbour Station (now TD Station), the Pedway system, or the new Fundy Quay project? It’s about having the right people at the table who have the passion and commitment to fight for these things. Who will nudge conversations in the direction we need them to go. This is my passion! This is my commitment.