OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VOICE

by: ADRIAN BRUFF

This is an election year, and on October 18th 2021, voters will elect a new Mayor and twelve Councillors to govern our city. Council is responsible for developing and evaluating policies and programs for our city, which includes enacting laws, and managing the city’s budget.

Council’s decisions affect everyone. With a three-billion-dollar annual budget, paid in part by you, Council decides which programs and services to invest in, which includes transit, emergency services, garbage collection, snow removal, parks, festivals, and infrastructure maintenance. Council sets property taxes, transit fares, and approves new developments. It is responsible for working with city stakeholders to help shape the quality of our communities, ensuring they are safe, healthy, and thriving.

Also included on your ballot is your choice of Trustees for both Public and Catholic Schools. Their roles impact the core of our community, the education of our children. Trustees have a hand in planning, establishing policies, advocating on behalf of their constituents, and even lobbying those who make decisions around funding. When selecting your candidates, here’s my advice; Identify leaders with strong ties to your community. Identify those who understand the issues of your constituency and who are also able to present ambitious and achievable policies to address them.

This year’s election will see a few changes. Most notable is the Council’s approval to change the 12 previously numbered wards to Indigenous names, upon request from our Indigenous community. This takes effect on Election Day.

Here is a list of the new wards and their pronunciation:

AIRINIQ: A NIRK NIK

DENE: DEH-NEH

IPIIHKOOHKANIPIAOHTSI: E-PEE-KO-KA-NEE PIU-TSI-YA

KARHIIO: GAR-EE-HE-O

MÉTIS: MAY-TEA

NAKOTA ISGA: NA-KOH-TAH EE-SKA

O-DAY’MIN: OH-DAY-MIN

SIPIWIYINIWAK: SEE-PEE-WIN-EE-WOK

SSPOMITAPI: SS-POH-ME-TAH-PEE

TASTAWIYINIWAK: TASS-TAW-WIN-EE-WOK

PAPASTEW: PAH-PAH-STAY-OH

PIHÊSIWIN: PEE-HAY-SOO-WIN

To learn more about the new ward names and to find out your ward, go to edmonton.ca/elections and use their online interactive tool.

Mark your calendar, make a plan and get out and vote!