I love to visit Alberta communities especially on market day or when there is a special event being sponsored by the town or hamlet. Over the years I have become adept at knowing how to determine what communities are healthy and vibrant by observing each communities surroundings. It seems that the main street is a barometer of the vibrancy and health of a community. Choose a community you recently visited and ask yourself where you think it would fit on a scale of 1 -6 (1 vibrant and growing to 6 dying). Here are some observations you can make to help you.
As you enter the community
a) Is there a colourful and eye catching sign that welcomes you?
b) Are there rundown junk yards and abandoned businesses as you drive to the middle
of town.?
c) Is there a Walmart, large chain stores and/or endless parking lots on the outskirts
of the town?
What do you see on main street?
a) Numbers of empty rundown storefronts?
b) Few people on the main street but lots on the outskirts?
C) Trees and flowers and colourful signage?
d) The town history painted on walls and written on sidewalks?
e) Historical buildings are still standing and have been maintained?
f) Open lots that are cared for and host community gardens?
g) Can you find a gathering place on mainstreet that seems to play host to the whole
community?
If you check the community bulletin boards what do you find?
a) Lots of programs and services encouraging folks to join?
b) Local business adds and flyers?
c) Museum, arts, and sport organization flyers?
d) Empty boards, signs limiting community use?
Finally, stop for a coffee/tea and ask a few questions of the locals. See what response you get. Are they friendly and helpful? Do they go out of their way to provide information and direction? In one town I visited I asked if there was a washroom I could use. They said no but did nothing to point me to a place where one might be available. When I asked for further directions they simply said they did not know and went on stalking shelves. This kind of response certainly gave me pause for thought and I am sure I won't rush to go back to that town.
Creating healthy vibrant communities requires residents, champions and leaders who understand that maintaining a strong mainstreet is essential to building the future of the town. Moving shopping off mainstreet and into large stores on the periphery of town does nothing to build the town's future. Of course economics for a town's future is important but it is not the only thing that will maintain a town. Champions, leaders, local business owners, pride in the town's past and updating and vision for the future are all necessary and essential factors to take into consideration when you are building a community to last.
I sure hope there are others who recognize this and continue to work to build vibrant unique communities with strong working mainstreets.
Write and tell me about your community. Do you think it will be around in 50 years? What are you doing to ensure this will happen.
