Aspirational video idea (not very high on my radar, but a lot of the research is already done).
Concept
“Northeast” is a word that carries a certain connotation to it in Calgary, vastly more so than any other quadrant.
It’s a place with a much higher proportion of immigrants than the rest of Calgary, with lower English literacy overall, a much lower median income, and a much higher median household size.
It’s a place with more home-based businesses than anywhere else in Calgary. A place with opportunity, one of the last remaining places where folks have a shot at affordable homeownership. But the potential of this place is squandered.
Partially by geography. Partially by land-use and street design policy. Partially by the underrepresentation of the folks affected in the places that matter.
Let’s talk about it, analyze it, and the ways we could make it better.
I’m pretty happy with the way this turned out, and was definitely thinking at the time it would make a pretty easy port to video.
That conclusion is the most rushed part of it. Most of the essay analyzes the situation, what’s wrong, and the damage it causes. Not much in the way of actually researched and actionable solutions.
Would love to talk with Srimal and other folks at Sustainable Calgary regarding projects like the Martindale Calm Collector. Trying to actually create autonomy in these regions by redesigning safer streets alongside the community.
It would be a great way to push folks in that area to get more serious about demanding better from their representatives — and get those representatives serious about doing it.
Thinking we could do something like this more like Spring 2025?