I’m not sure if it’s my advanced years, or that I now live in a small town - or maybe it’s something hormonal - but I’m eavesdropping more than I used to. And no matter where I go, from Tim Horton’s to the Post Office to Chris’ Diner, there’s a lot to hear. In fact, it’s hard not to listen to the surge of ideas, complaints, pontifications, cynicism and possibilities spewing forth.
Some of it is nonsense – does anyone really think we should carve past Mayors’ faces into Turtle Mountain? But some of the ideas are well thought out and exciting.
How refreshing it would be if what citizens are actually talking about - are passionate about - could actually serve as a blueprint for change for the new mayor and council.
Top of the list for many is rejuvenating our main streets. I’ve written about this before, but a new idea is encouraging artisan products – like a dairy making Crowsnest Cheese, or smoked fish caught in our streams, or sausage made from ‘Pass pigs. Maybe even bottling and marketing our tasty water.
A majority believe we need to keep retirees from moving to Lethbridge or Okotoks. We want their wisdom and spending power in our community. That means we have to encourage developers to build classy, affordable housing.
We want educational alternatives for all ages. Consult young people about their education needs and find out how technology could help deliver quality programs through a Crowsnest Pass campus. The campus could also provide re-training for those who want to change careers. Talk to the mines about what they need for trades or management training – can we deliver it from our own campus?
A lot of conversation is about our Rum Runner festivities. As a family event, it doesn’t make sense to celebrate men who broke the law and killed a policeman. So, what does make sense? What do we want to celebrate? What makes us interesting? Bring together a committee, made up of local people from all ages and backgrounds, to create something that is passionately ours.
If we want to develop the Crowsnest Pass tax base, what do we have to offer to others?
What business could thrive here based on what is already here? What about all the companies that service the coal mines? Many of them are located in Sparwood – a town that already has a massive tax base. Maybe we can entice some of the companies here with attractive tax incentives.
If we want to be a tourist destination – we need to act like one. That means making our community beautiful. Offer prizes for residents who make their properties look beautiful, and penalize those who don’t. Have a committee of citizens be responsible for keeping town crews up to date on what needs to be fixed, cleaned and replaced.
Again, bring together a local group to brainstorm ideas about how we can attract tourists here. We already have some wonderful tourist events – how can we build on them? What about a world-class fishing event? Or snowmobile trails? Or what if we pitched a hunting reality show?
We don’t have to limit ourselves to sports. What about book, film, theatre, and/or music festivals? We have a strong artist base here already – why not look for ways we can make this a go-to destination for art lovers?
Families who live here need a safe and healthy community with activity options for their children. Once again, seniors can be an incredible resource, mentoring students and helping design and deliver extra-curricular activities.
Of course, all these ideas are based on the assumption that the Mayor and Council are keeping a careful eye on the budget. We must make financially smart decisions – not vague promises that commit community resources to unrealistic projects. Bragging is fine as long as it’s free. Once it starts to cost us, it better be based on solid numbers. We need to know what the job descriptions are for the people who work for the taxpayers, and exactly what they are paid. That’s one way for citizens to know if we are getting the best bang for our buck.
There is a lot of passion in this community. Too much of it has been wasted in frustration and anger. Let’s celebrate our enthusiasm and focus the energy. And let’s choose our next leaders because they are ready and willing to listen, act responsibly and get us where we need to be.
