It’s been over a month since we adjourned the legislature for the summer, and what a great month it’s been! I love the time between spring and fall sessions because it’s my time to connect with YOU! I’ve missed you! It’s so good to be home and focusing my travel time on getting around our vast riding to our different communities.
I love spending my summer in your community under that glorious Alberta sunshine while we eat a burger or enjoy a beverage, and look out over the green eastern slopes or the majestic peaks. There are so many opportunities to connect over the summer from the local community AGM and BBQ to parades, markets, events, and more than a few pancake breakfasts! Over the summer my focus shifts to strengthening relationships with as many constituents, community groups, businesses, and municipal councilors as possible. My calendar is already jam-packed with BBQs, community events, farmer’s markets, and celebrations and there will surely be more to come!
I have always said I don’t want anyone in our riding to drive more than a half hour to see me, which was the main reason for creating my regular MLA on Tour events in the east end of the riding. Whether at a community event or an MLA on Tour, I want to hear about your life, business, kids, and your community. If you see me at an event, please come over to say hi and tell me what’s on your mind (good or bad – remember, I’m the MLA for everyone across our riding regardless of how they voted). These are truly the connections and conversations that shape my understanding and direct how best to represent you when I’m in Edmonton.
My office team has grown as we have welcomed to new summer student interns to help with community outreach and engagement! We’re so excited to have Lucas and Cael on our team. You will definitely meet them over the summer at events across the riding, like the Canmore Folk Fest, the Millarville market, Bragg Creek days and so much more. We’re also going to ramping up door knocking this summer because nothing beats chatting with you on your doorstep one on one.
Through your emails and messages online, and in person at your door or at events, I learn more about your priorities and how best to champion your needs. Please continue to keep us informed about events in your community, my team and I welcome the opportunity to get involved.
Even though our communities are diverse in many ways, our connection to the land binds us all to this place. From this connection stems one thing we all have in common – a concern about wildfire risks and preparedness.
Forest fires have become more common and intense across Alberta leading to a growing anxiety among residents around what to do if a wildfire comes close to their community. Wildfire season in Alberta officially starts March 1 and runs until October 31 annually – but wildfire has no boundaries and follows no calendar. Wildfire is an ever-increasing risk to communities across our vast riding– from our aging coniferous forests and grassland areas to our rural centres surrounded by our natural landscapes. Fires and smoke in Alberta effect all of us; and residents in our riding who live in these wildland/interface areas share in the responsibility to increase human safety, decrease property losses, and enhance wildland fire suppression success.
We all have a role to play to address the challenges and risks associated with wildfire and it literally starts at home. I’ve attended a couple different community clean ups in the riding where residents gather together to clean deadfall and other natural combustibles from close to their homes. When we work together, we can get so much more done! Firesmarting your property protects you and your neighbours. I recommend you also take some time to figure out what your community’s emergency response plan is and where you will get information about it – most of this information should be available on the MD or Municipality websites. Here are some other tips:
Be Ready: FireSmart your property and talk to your neighbours about organizing
a community clean up event. Make a Household Emergency Plan and Prepare an emergency kit. To learn how to get started, contact your local authority, get a copy of our Wildfire Preparedness Workbook (email us and we’ll send it), and/or visit additional resources online such as firesmartcanada.ca, firesmartalberta.ca, and GetPrepared.ca.
In an emergency: Follow official channels and updates. Sign up to receive notifications from local Emergency Management and Download the Alberta Wildfire Status and Alberta Emergency Alert apps.
Sarah Elmeligi
Free Classifieds