Igniting seems like a strong word, doesn't? But in Longview and other ACE Communities it is about using a positive event to move communities forward, rather than a catastrophe to bring people together.
Longview had Ian Hill, ACE Ambassador, speak to key groups and the community at large in mid-January.
Local leaders reflected on the day's events and one shared "what an incredible and productive day we all had!!...It has been smouldering but you managed to spark it into a pretty substantial fire! If I had to put it in a picture, this was Longview after you all left" And Michelle Geistlinger provided the fireworks picture.
Michelle continues and shares that "the feedback we have been getting has been excellent with many expressing their extreme gratitude for the opportunity to hear your message and many more wanting to know when you can come back! The very next morning Mayor McCorquindale had an email from a resident offering his carpentry skills free of charge for any main street merchants wishing to spruce up their store front and this person also hopes your message spreads as do we all who were at the meeting."
Michelle added the many residents indicated that they want to be involved in the local ACE group and others saying they will participate when a project is started. Michelle added that "one resident has enlisted a sound engineer to donate a 24 channel mixer and his skills for our Music Tour in June and his design skills for the proposed stage in the park." The Music Tour is the ACE Arts Tour that is being held in rural Alberta starting later this winter.
Needless to say, a community can pull together and focus on working collaboratively without a crisis. That is what rural Alberta communities are doing today.
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