In 1979, after Pittsburgh athletes had won four Superbowls, two World Series, and a university football title, Howard Cosell called it “the city of champions.” Pittsburgh leaders, struggling with the transition from one sort of economy to another, and with a crummy reputation, took on the slogan. By 1980, books were already being published about […]
This month, our little house has been lousy with guests. They come for the festivals. In some ways it’s a perfect time to have guests: they’re out of the house and in the city so much they remain attractive. They don’t have time to become a nuisance. In the research and in the work […]
A few days into the run of Catalyst Theatre’s The Soul Collector, I moderated an informal panel discussion in the lobby of the Arts Barns. Jonathan Christenson, the writer, director and musical composer of the show, and Beth Graham, writer and performer, were on the panel. The topic was making art in Edmonton. What Jonathan and […]
A city story is not just about marketing and communication. It makes ambassadors out of its citizens. Actors. If city employees use the story, make it the core of their culture, the city begins to fulfill itself — its best instincts. In January, 2012, when we started the research that led to Make Something Edmonton, […]
Like a lot of leaders in Edmonton, Jim Taylor, executive director of the Downtown Business Association, has been impatient for renewal for most of his career. Now that renewal has arrived, he’s a bit spooked. The city is making Jasper Avenue into a pedestrian route. 108th Street is transforming. New towers are going up north […]
An identity is a complex thing, and more-or-less impossible to sum up in a few words despite what any branding expert will tell you. I change my mind about myself ten times a week, on average, but I like that on my website and on Twitter I am forced to distill the way I see […]
I suppose if you were nerdy enough, you could go back and look over this blog to chart the evolution of Make Something Edmonton. But it goes back farther than that, to January, 2012. If you’re new to this thing, here is a two-minute summary. If you have friends who struggle with the question, “Why […]
The Make Something Edmonton launch party is sold out. Starting on March 22, we’ll take it on the road. We’ll make presentations, visit schools and clubs and dinner parties and community halls and church basements and corporate lunchrooms. You will invite us. We’ll entertain and inspire you. We’ll ask, “What are you making?” There might […]
It would be incorrect to call this a problem, but some of you have contacted us looking for permission. This is a good sign, in many ways. You don’t want to do anything terribly unsafe or flagrantly illegal. You don’t want your neighbours to find you or your project abominable. Most rules and laws […]
Less than 48 hours after tickets to the launch of Make Something Edmonton went on sale, they were sold out. We’re sorry about that. I think back to meetings we have had, in the last few months, where we were terrified no one would come. Avenue Theatre, on the site of one of the most remarkable […]
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