One of my favourite parts of serving as your City Councillor is seeing our neighbourhoods come alive with people connecting, celebrating, and simply enjoying being together.

That is exactly what I experienced at Heart of the City. I spent the afternoon there with my daughter and friends, and it was one of those days that reminded me why community matters so much. The music, art, local vendors, activities, and treats were all so delightful, but events like this do more than entertain. They strengthen relationships, create new connections, and remind us that our public spaces are places where we belong together. In a world that can feel divided or disconnected, these shared moments matter. 

Equally as important as these individual events, so too are the spaces where they take place. It’s been wonderful to see neighbourhood renewal come to Boyle Street and McCauley and I’m keen to see these investments continue. We’ve started conversations about our four-year budget and maintaining our current public spaces has been a big priority. I’m pleased that repairs and maintenance to the Giovanni Caboto Park washroom building was noted in the City’s initial four year capital budget, and I’ll also be advocating for funding for upgrades to existing parks and playgrounds to help keep these community assets in the best shape possible. 

Speaking of important community assets, Council recently gave the go-ahead for further work on the Residential Parking Permit Program. I know last time this was reviewed, many of you had concerns about the one-size fits all approach and missing details at the local level. City staff are going to develop a proposed program that will come to Council for approval in early 2027. This will lay out a process for implementing the Residential Parking Permit Program in individual neighbourhoods, which will involve many opportunities for residents to provide feedback and make sure the program is the right one for the area. I will keep you posted on opportunities to be involved in the future!

Also on the parking front, City Council has taken steps to address surface lots in The Quarters. Many of these parking lots are currently unlicensed, and the City gave property owners a year to obtain the required permits. That grace period has now expired and the City will now start enforcement to ensure these sites are properly maintained and operated. We’ve already seen some positive turnover in these unlicensed lots, with properties being put up for sale that we hope will go to new owners who can get them developed.

Our communities are strongest when we come together. Whether it’s through festivals, parks, housing, or neighbourhood events, every investment in connection helps build a more welcoming and vibrant Ward O-day’min. There are as always a host of great events happening in McCauley and Boyle Street in the coming months - like Felice Café Block Parties, with the next one happening on August 12th. I encourage you to check it out and hope to see many of you there!

Anne Stevenson, City Councillor for Ward O-day’min
Email: anne.stevenson@edmonton.ca
Phone: 780-496-8333