Edmonton shows how a vision works

Re: Desperate need for visionaries, Letter, Nov. 17

I agree with Dave Collins that Calgary needs a vision. Three years ago, Edmonton Mayor Don Iverson set the aspirational target of becoming Canada’s Health City. To their credit, Edmonton has been very effective in attracting multinational pharmaceutical companies. It also boasts a number of health spinoff companies. Most recently, it made headlines by attracting Google’s Deep Mind group.

Edmonton has the makings of a future centre of excellence, especially if Alberta’s single-payer health-care system can support its companies through collaboration.

Now that the Olympics is off our backs, we need a similar vision.

Derrick Rancourt, professor, Cumming School of Medicine