The COVID-19 pandemic came with its own type of challenges for municipalities, but for St. Albert Coun. Natalie Joly the silver lining was seeing how St. Albertans stepped up to help each other through a time of crisis.
"Those kind of things bring so much joy to the community and make me so proud to be here," Joly said. She pointed to several examples, including the people who wrote chalk messages outside senior homes during the pandemic, or the person who made snow sculptures around St. Albert.
"We've seen examples of neighbours taking care of each other when they're in isolation. This last year has really shown us the best parts of our community in terms of our willingness to step up."
In a year-end interview with the Gazette, Joly reflected on her work over the last year as 2020 came to a close.
Joly said she felt council acted proactively in their response to the pandemic although it was "frustrating" to make certain decisions, like the face covering bylaw, when the province wouldn't. Being on the city's emergency advisory committee made her "that much more proud of our staff," she said.
When asked about the highlights of the last term, Joly noted a few significant long-term projects, including first readings of the municipal development plan (MDP), which lays out the city's vision for the future, and lands secured through the annexation agreement with Sturgeon County.
"But for me, the most memorable motions aren't necessarily those really big ones that our staff worked on for years, but the more personal stories. That's when residents stood up to create meaningful change through their leadership," Joly said.
In 2019, Joly was the driving force on council behind the ban on conversion therapy in St. Albert, making the city the first municipality in the province to do so. But she said residents really took a leadership position in their advocacy to officially introduced protections for LGBTQ+ people by prohibiting businesses from offering the practice.
"We got to be leaders against a discriminatory and harmful practice, not only within St. Albert, but that started the conversation across the province. We've seen many similar motions follow ours," she said.
Since then, other municipalities including Calgary, Edmonton, Strathcona County, Wood Buffalo and Spruce Grove have followed suit with bans of their own. Last month, the federal government also passed second readings of a bill that will criminalize LGBTQ+ conversion therapy in Canada.
"Some of the stories that I heard through that process and even since are heartbreaking, but it makes me proud that as a community, we got to be a part of the solution."
Council's vote to remove distance requirements in group homes was another one bolstered by the voices of residents, Joly said. At first, council seemed resistant to remove the requirement, she said, until St. Albert's Erik King explained how the regulation was discriminatory to himself and others with disabilities.
"He waited, I don't know how many hours, before it was his turn to address council. He gave us an amazing presentation talking about how these little discriminatory regulations prevent his friends from living next door to each other. Once he spoke, he changed everyone's mind," she said.
"That's my favourite part of being on council, helping create opportunities for people to make a difference in their communities. That's what I love."
Joly said her position as the board chair for Homeland Housing has been "incredible," noting an affordable housing project in Morinville is now open. Working as part of the emergency advisory committee through the pandemic, and moving forward with environmental policies under the environmental advisory committee were other highlights, she noted.
As for challenges, Joly said she would have liked to see more of a focus on recreational facilities in the city. With residents identifying the need for more pools as a top priority, she said she'd like council to consider proposals that include aquatic space.
"It would have been nice had we've gotten further in that discussion than we have, though I'm certainly excited about the direction. But yes, those decisions are really challenging in terms of pace," she said.
When asked if she is considering running for re-election, Joly said she hasn't decided yet, but will announce later this year.
