St. Albert’s neighbourhood development co-ordinator has been recognized with a provincial award.
Angie Dedrick found out about a month ago she was to receive a 2014 Alberta Community Justice Award in the community mobilization category.
“I had no idea, I just got this nice little letter,” Dedrick said. “It was a really big surprise.”
Since Dedrick was unable to attend the May 9 award ceremony in Calgary, she will be honoured with her award at a later date.
There were 11 other recipients of an award spread amongst a variety of categories, like leadership, partnerships and collaboration and innovation.
Dedrick has been part of St. Albert’s Family and Community Support Services department for about two and a half years, but has been a St. Albert resident for the last 15.
“I really appreciate the recognition and I guess the one thing I hope is that people learn a little bit more about neighbourhood development,” Dedrick said.
What does that job entail? While Dedrick is known to many for the block party program, her role is bigger than just the parties and is dedicated to trying to bring neighbourhoods together.
“One area that we look at is crime prevention,” Dedrick said, giving an example of a community where it was identified there was a high call volume to the RCMP.
They started working within that neighbourhood, helping neighbours to get to know each other. That involved a block party, a potted plant workshop and a cultural kitchen where they cooked together.
It turned out a lot of the calls weren’t so much about crime but for more minor concerns like noise complaints.
“When people know each other you sort of have more understanding,” Dedrick said, noting once neighbours got to know each other, they could communicate with each other rather than just calling the RCMP for an issue.
Crime prevention and understanding are just some of the reasons to get to know your neighbours, Dedrick said.
Dedrick said she was a bit embarrassed to get an award because, as far as she’s concerned, her successes are group efforts.
“All my work is based on relationship building and partnerships,” she said.
“I just feel like the luckiest person in the world. It’s really nice to be able to do this kind of work in your own community,” Dedrick said.
“I think what I appreciate that I’m being recognized for is just taking time to listen and learn what’s going on in a neighbourhood and responding appropriately,” Dedrick said.
Dedrick might have been surprised to learn of her award, but the person who nominated her, Connie Smigielski, Dedrick’s supervisor, wasn’t.
“Not really surprised. But really happy,” Smigielski said of her reaction when she learned Dedrick had won the award Smigielski had suggested her for.
Smigielski, who is the manager of community strategy, said she nominated Dedrick for her innovative approaches.
If one approach doesn’t work, Smigielski said Dedrick digs her heels in and tries something else.
“Really creative, just really innovative approaches to working with people. Not those usual just host a block party and if nobody shows up, moving on,” Smigielski said. “In every neighbourhood that she’s in, she will just find a way.”
