Turning Community Pride into Engagement
- Christine Wong
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
From Appreciation to Action: Making Your Voice Count Locally
Over the years, through numerous surveys, we’ve heard from residents in communities of all sizes about what they love most about where they live: parks, trails, safety, proximity to nature, or walkability. The things we love are a result of purposeful planning and design by our municipalities. Local decisions affect our daily lives, from the roads we drive on to the green spaces we enjoy.
What’s often overlooked is that municipalities thrive because of the people who work there, not in spite of them. The staff who plan, maintain, and improve our communities make these benefits possible. But they also need your help to do their job. As a resident, you bring valuable experience and perspective. You know firsthand where a crosswalk feels unsafe, where traffic moves too slowly, or where more green space could improve the quality of life. Municipalities need to hear your feedback, including your pain points and preferences, so that they can make better decisions for everyone.
A common misconception is that people don't participate in public engagement activities because they don’t care. In reality, many residents miss out simply because they aren’t aware of when or how to get involved. The “engagement window” passes, and opportunities are lost.
This is why communication matters. Municipal government may have the most significant impact on us of any level of government. However, if people are unaware of the various projects undertaken or how to participate, opportunities can be missed.
To get involved, it helps to know how your municipality shares opportunities to get involved:
Follow your municipality’s social media accounts; most share engagement opportunities there.
Find your municipality’s engagement website; many residents don’t even know these sites exist.
Sign up for email notifications and alerts on projects that matter to you.
Take small actions – respond to a survey, attend a town hall, or send an email to the project team. Taking even a few minutes to provide feedback makes a difference.
Civic pride is already strong; we see it in the way people talk about their favourite trails, their local parks, or the sense of safety and connection they feel at home. But pride alone isn’t enough. To build stronger, more responsive communities, that pride needs to translate into action. When residents know how to engage, everyone benefits. Decisions are better, trust grows, and the places we choose to call home continue to thrive.
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