Presentation highlights ’13 Ways to Kill Your Community’
1. Judy Bender and Helen Machmer
2. Dave and Valerie Morrell
3. Debbie Firth and Linda Sempel Hidden. Carol Gustafson and Bob Busse
1. Ron Bartusek and Farris Baba
2. Gerry VanStrien and Carolyn Duncan
3. Debbie Firth and Linda Sempel Hidden. Dave and Valerie Morrell
1. Jeff Walpole and Bryce Warren
2. Gerry VanStrien and Carolyn Duncan
3. Albert Berger and Cameron Coghill Hidden. Dorothy McFadden and Neta VanIderstine
1. Dave and Valerie Morrell
2. Gerry VanStrien and Carolyn Duncan
3. Don and Dot Swenson Hidden. Norma and Joe Campbell Fresh off a well-received presentation at the SUMA (Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association) convention earlier this year, consultant Doug Griffiths was in Moose Jaw on June 6 to discuss his book, “13 Ways to Kill Your Community.” The presentation was held at the library/art museum theatre in front of a packed crowd. Griffiths was brought to Moose Jaw at the request of Mayor Fraser Tolmie and City Council. Griffiths is a former Alberta MLA who also contended for the Alberta PC Party leadership in 2011. Since leaving politics, he has met and consulted with countless communities across North America. He says Moose Jaw shows a great deal of promise.
“I don’t know that I have been to another community that has quite as much immediate potential as Moose Jaw does,” said Griffiths, who adds that millennials are looking for communities that are walkable and are aesthetically pleasing.
“Moose Jaw is perfectly situated to be one of those aesthetically pleasing communities that has everything to offer. In fact, I would say Moose Jaw has the most potential to be like Austin, Texas. If you look up Austin, Texas, they have a young, millennial population… They have a beautiful river valley and it is walkable with a lot of historic buildings, combined with modern buildings. It is just one of those places that draws millennials in. Moose Jaw has that feeling like you are on the cusp of something great here.” According to his book, the 13 ways to kill your community include: forget the water; don’t attract business; don’t engage youth; deceive yourself; shop elsewhere; don’t paint; don’t cooperate; live in the past; shut out your seniors; reject everything new; ignore outsiders; grow complacent; don’t take responsibility. Each topic was expanded upon using real-life examples. Griffiths says he hopes people learn they need to take ownership of their role in building the community. “Whether that’s your attitude or the negativity and criticism towards those who are trying to do something — or the awareness that they need to be a part of it to help grow — there needs to be an awareness as to how you approach problems,” said Griffiths. “A community is just an aggregate of all the personalities in it, so if we have a community full of negative personalities then you are going to have a negative community. Check yourself; if you aren’t going to help change, at least don’t be a force of negativity.”
City Council met with Griffiths for a strategic planning session the day after the presentation. Mayor Tolmie noted that he hopes to bring Griffiths back for another presentation sometime in the future.
If you want to purchase Griffiths’ book, you can contact the mayor’s office, or visit www.13ways.ca for more information.