The Importance of Civic Leadership | City Builders Ep.40

And I think w- you know, one of the things and w- the reason why we wanted to talk about this is that, you know, it sort of sounds cliche to give back to the community.

But I, I think the thing that we have to keep in mind is that especially when you're a, a professional in a specific area, it's important for you to get involved and get engaged because you bring to the table a certain perspective that other people may not have.

And I, and I believe that is the, the missing ingredient in a lot of the local decision-making.

Yeah.

I, I, I think that personal connection, whether it be people who have been elected or appointed or just residents that are engaged in some manner, that it's all really, really critical to, uh, affecting your daily life.

Um, my, my experience is about 25 years, uh, in committees, but then appointed in the planning board, and then elected for multiple terms as a city commissioner, uh, which is like a councilor.

Mm-hmm.

Some people, um, use the term council, and we use the term commission, and then as mayor for a couple of terms as well.

A- all of that taught me quite a bit about, about the involvement and, um...

But a- as w- being involved in the, at that level, we recognize the importance of the non-elected appointed people and their involvement through feedback to you about what's going on or issues that are specific to a particular neighborhood or street or what have you.

I think those are, those are the things you're referring to.

I, I think we should step back a little bit and, and talk about, I guess, the levels of how the local, uh, decision-making really affects people in their daily lives.

And I think this is where, you know...

A- a- and I think to frame that a little bit, one of the things we, we, we know that when it comes to elections, when it comes to identifying people to lead a community, whatever, a lot of people gravitate to the highest level, the federal level, right?

Right.

They're very engaged when it comes to, say, president.

"I'm gonna vote for the president," you know, whomever you support.

Or the prime minister.

Or, or the prime minister, depending on your country, what have you.

Mm-hmm.

And then your representative, your senate, your, your, uh, house representative or in Canada their-

Ministry

... ad- administra- a- adminis- ministry or MP, what have you.

Mm-hmm.

That's federal level.

And I think w- you know, one of the things and w- the reason why we wanted to talk about this is that, you know, it sort of sounds cliche to give back to the community.

But I, I think the thing that we have to keep in mind is that especially when you're a, a professional in a specific area, it's important for you to get involved and get engaged because you bring to the table a certain perspective that other people may not have.

And I, and I believe that is the, the missing ingredient in a lot of the local decision-making.

Yeah.

I, I, I think that personal connection, whether it be people who have been elected or appointed or just residents that are engaged in some manner, that it's all really, really critical to, uh, affecting your daily life.

Um, my, my experience is about 25 years, uh, in committees, but then appointed in the planning board, and then elected for multiple terms as a city commissioner, uh, which is like a councilor.

Mm-hmm.

Some people, um, use the term council, and we use the term commission, and then as mayor for a couple of terms as well.

A- all of that taught me quite a bit about, about the involvement and, um...

But a- as w- being involved in the, at that level, we recognize the importance of the non-elected appointed people and their involvement through feedback to you about what's going on or issues that are specific to a particular neighborhood or street or what have you.

I think those are, those are the things you're referring to.

I, I think we should step back a little bit and, and talk about, I guess, the levels of how the local, uh, decision-making really affects people in their daily lives.

And I think this is where, you know...

A- a- and I think to frame that a little bit, one of the things we, we, we know that when it comes to elections, when it comes to identifying people to lead a community, whatever, a lot of people gravitate to the highest level, the federal level, right?

Right.

They're very engaged when it comes to, say, president.

"I'm gonna vote for the president," you know, whomever you support.

Or the prime minister.

Or, or the prime minister, depending on your country, what have you.

Mm-hmm.

And then your representative, your senate, your, your, uh, house representative or in Canada their-

Ministry

... ad- administra- a- adminis- ministry or MP, what have you.

Mm-hmm.

That's federal level.