There is a problem in modern politics.
What everyday people think is that there is a disconnect between themselves and their government.
In a time of careers and kids, it is difficult to find the time or the energy to take part in government decision making.
In Humboldt especially, there are opportunities to engage with the members of municipal government because these are Humboldt residents who run to get elected to council.
Director of Communications, Jennifer Brooks, says citizen engagement is a new trend that they are seeing
Engaging with government can be as simple as writing a letter about something that is important, or volunteering at a fundraiser for something that is meaningful to the community.
To engage with council, it can be as easy as talking to a city councilor.
City Councillor, Sandy Weyland with the Corporate Services Committee says councillors do get concerns brought to them.
This is different than a bigger centre like Saskatoon where officials are elected for different ridings called wards within the city. For Humboldt, six councillors are elected to represent Humboldt itself.
Mayor Malcolm Eaton says that he and city councillors welcome this interaction at both the department and council levels, whether it is a new idea for the city or a concern or issue that affects them.
“We have staff and people you should talk to but if you got issues in the bigger picture things, like where are we headed in taxation…those are good questions for councillors to be talking about and hearing from people,” says Eaton.
Director of Community and Leisure Services, Darrell Lessmeister, is always looking for this kind of feedback with sports and recreation programs.
“We welcome anybody that has new ideas or new suggestions. We will definitely entertain those. We’ve seen programs come and go, we’ve seen things change, and we want them to change.”
An important event in the community where Community and Leisure Services get a lot of feedback is the fall and spring registrations.
“Those have been very successful in coordinating that need,” says City Councillor, Linda Mattock. She recalls the last fall registration, there was a call for more swimming lessons.
“The department was able to take a look at that, revamp the whole schedule, put in more sessions of swimming lessons to meet the needs of the large numbers that showed an interest.”
Getting involved with government based programs and organizations is also more possible in Humboldt compared to other centres. Joining a board or a committee is as easy as looking for what someone’s interest is.
A good place to start is the Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery.
“It depends on what their interest is,” says Jennifer Hoesgen with the Cultural Services Department. “What we try to do is match volunteers with what they are interested in.”
With three historical locations in Humboldt; the Museum, the Gallery, and Original Humboldt, along with numerous committees and boards, there is a variety of opportunities to get involved on a cultural basis.
Being community based and volunteer driven is how museum has grown, and it continues to do so, says Hoesgen.
Mattock says the same about the Community and Leisure Services. The community aspect is an important part of their committee and it has just grown over the years, says Mattock. And it takes peoples inputs and involvement to keep it going.
When it comes to government making decisions on where to go with certain programs and services, open house meetings that welcome the public are an important part of the decision making process.
The first part of that is getting the word out so people have the opportunity to have their voices heard.
That is where Brooks comes in. Her job is using every platform available to advertise and inform the community that there is going to be a session open to them to come and speak or talk with city staff and councillors.
It is also up to the people themselves to be engaged with the community, says Brooks.
“You can’t expect to be informed about what’s happening locally if you don’t follow local news and media. We really want to encourage people to make sure they stay connected to their community.”
Whether it is social media, a town hall, or talking with a councilor on the street, Eaton says these are all good opportunities for getting people engaged with their government.
See parts 1-8 by clicking on the links: Mayoral Duties, Communications, Corporate Services, Public Works, Leisure Services, Cultural Services, Council and Working Together.
