3 Things for Calgary (What are yours?)

Today, Mayor Nenshi joined with community activist Dave Meslin and hundreds of Calgarians to officially launch the 3 Things for Calgary movement.

So what is it? Essentially, it's a challenge to all of us.

Calgary is our workplace, our play place, and our home. Every action that happens in our city, whether it comes from City Hall or the local community hall affects our streets, our neighbourhoods, and our Calgary.

So doesn't it make sense that we should take actions ourselves to make our city better? The truth is: for every one of us who gets more involved in our communities, our communities are made better.

So here's the challenge:

• Think about the community and city issues that are important to you.
• Decide on three actions you can take to make your street, neighbourhood, or city better.
• Do those three things! 
• Tell others about what you did... and then do some more!

The three things you choose are up to you. What are you passionate about? What are you good at? What do you think needs to be made better? Here are just a few examples of three things you could do:

• Join your community association
• Host a front yard BBQ and invite your neighbours 
• Run for civic office
• Join a City of Calgary committee

And for those who haven't had much experience with civic engagement, the actions could be as simple as:

• Email your alderman or the mayor about an important issue
• Participate in an open house about a community issue
• Attend a street festival
• Call 311 and tell the City about a pothole or burnt-out light

Whether large or small, any action we take to make our community better will make Calgary better as a whole. 

3 Things for Calgary has evolved from the Mayor's Civic Engagement Committee--a group of dedicated volunteers who have worked hard over the past few months to bring 3 Things for Calgary to fruition. Today is the launch, but there's more to come. The launch event was supported by First Calgary Financial, the Calgary Public Library, and Juice Creative (which made the opening video). Thanks also to Gordon McDowell for the video work of the full event!

Go to the 3 Things for Calgary Facebook group immediately to start participating. And watch 3ThingsforCalgary.ca for more.

- Daorcey from Mayor Nenshi's team