Faith groups given a voice in renewing Calgary’s core
CALGARY, AB—Calgary's elected officials have as much as admitted they made a mistake six years ago by not including faith-based institutions as stakeholders in plans to revitalize the city's core neighbourhoods. In early May, with no debate and no one opposed, they voted to correct that oversight.
"I think that the engagement the parties have shown on this issue has been very, very good," says mayor Naheed Nenshi. "And I think it leads us to a much better plan."
First approved six years ago, the plan seeks to turn Calgary's Centre City into "a livable, caring and thriving place" for residents and visitors alike. It recognized as its community partners the arts, cultural institutions, sports, architecture, education and business, among others. But it was silent on the role and contribution of the faith community.
In 2011, Cardus, a Hamilton, Ontario, think-tank that focuses on the renewal of "social architecture," took up the challenge of making sure faith-based institutions—churches, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship—received due recognition in the plan.
"The absence of the words was a powerful statement," says Cardus executive vice president Ray Pennings, who lives in Calgary. "A list that includes everyone but excludes one is a statement of exclusion."
Pennings says this omission was more likely due to ignorance than some deliberate attempt to shut out people of faith.
"There is some of that to be sure," he says. "But I think for most people, religious thinking and the values which undergird it, and the role of these institutions, simply is not part of their framework."
Cardus began by making a detailed inventory of the places of worship within the area, and then assessed their roles in light of the plan's objectives. Then they took a list of recommendations to city planners, who responded by hosting a workshop that drew more than 90 people.
"Members of the planning department were at each table to hear the concerns and write them down," says Michael Ward, lead pastor of Central United Church and a key player in the discussions. "That was huge. It said, 'You guys matter. It's important to us to hear from you, and we're going to initiate some changes here.'"
Out of that came proposed changes to the plan that council has now approved.
Pennings is confident that city hall is serious about including faith-based institutions as it goes forward with the Centre City Plan.
"It doesn't mean that tomorrow 15 things are going to change," he says. "But there's now a basis for appeal in terms of religious institutions getting their voices heard, as well as an impetus for municipal officials to think through putting those words into action."
Ward also hopes it will be an incentive for people of all faiths to consider returning to Calgary's inner city, which many had abandoned for the suburbs.
"Aside from a few churches, there's not really much going on," he says. "There's no Jewish presence. The only Islamic presence is in our basement at noon on Fridays."
"Ultimately the local community needs to own it," says Pennings. "We're not an advocacy group, we're a think tank providing research to stimulate a conversation. The parties involved in that conversation will need to take it forward."
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