News Release

City Celebrates Everyday Political Citizens

The City of Edmonton wants to recognize existing and emerging leaders who have made a difference in our city, by joining a national project that celebrates Everyday Political Citizens.

The local campaign asks Edmontonians to nominate people who have shown leadership and worked hard to improve our community.

“Politics is about more than just elected politicians. Politics includes Edmontonians who become leaders in their communities through advocacy or changing public policy,” said Councillor Michael Walters. “We want to recognize and celebrate these Everyday Political Citizens.”

The Everyday Political Citizens project is spearheaded by Samara Canada, a non-profit, non-partisan organization that aims to raise awareness about the importance of political participation and public engagement.

The City is joining the national project because it fits with the objectives of the Open City Initiative, which includes the goal of improving public engagement in Edmonton. City Council launched a special initiative on public engagement to improve consultation and engagement with Edmontonians.

“Samara Canada has started this national campaign to bring attention to the politically active citizens who aren’t politicians, and we saw this as an inspiring way to engage with community leaders,” said Councillor Walters, “We want Edmontonians to nominate their friends, colleagues and community leaders as Everyday Political Citizens.”

“Samara Canada initiated the Everyday Political Citizen project to find and celebrate Canadians who are role models of positive political engagement,” said Michael MacMillan Co-founder and Chair of Samara Canada. “Engagement by individual citizens is important at every level of politics, but it’s most personal at the municipal level, which is why we’re so pleased that the City of Edmonton is joining the search for the unsung heroes of democracy.”

The deadline to make a nomination for the Everyday Political Citizens project is October 31, 2014.