Around the world, we love our city and naturally, we want to make films about them! If you are interested in cities or community development, we are certainly in the golden age of Youtube!
During the pandemic I recall a number of commentators lamented the end of cities. They were wrong.
More and more folks are choosing to return and reinvest in cities (~20,000 people per year each year for the last ten years in Edmonton!), and making movies about them!
I’ve seen fantastic films from how we build and grow to great spaces for artists or innovative recreation for children and families. I’ve learned about historic buildings, Montreal’s Expo building, walking school buses, a local skate park strategy, seniors dance groups, and much more.
Both inspirational, and at times cautionary, I find that after watching many of these videos I truly feel like I’ve traveled.
I recently was speaking with a number of community builders about their favourite channels. Here are a few of mine... What are yours?
About Here
Oh the Urbanity
Shifter
Climate Town
Strong Towns
Not just Bikes
StreetFilms
Just over six months ago, UCP Minister Ric McIver sent a letter to local bike advocates that the Government of Alberta, “respects the autonomy of municipalities to make decisions about local projects and priorities”. But this was before former UCP Minister Peter Guthrie got kicked out of cabinet for speaking out about Premier Smith’s health care scandal.
In an attempt to divert attention away from allegations of corruption, the UCP recently sent Minister Devin Dreeshen to Edmonton to weigh into active transportation lanes, AKA “bike lanes”. Since the Minister has forced the debate, I do think there’s merit in fact checking a few things.
One question people have been asking me to write about is, “how can we usher back the return of local retail to our neighbourhoods?”
Province will take more than $575 million from Edmonton property owners, almost $50 million more than last year.
