You might see her checking out that new restaurant down the road, or walking the trails on a lush, summer morn. But most days Saylor McLennan looks at a computer screen, fingers flying across the keys, while posting new comments to Facebook.
Perhaps deserving a Mrs. St. Albert degree for always staying on top of local news, McLennan is one of the administrators of The Community of St. Albert site. To the public, the popular website posts questions and news on everything from lost and found goods, to searches for repair shops and reports on police sirens in the city. In the background, McLennan is commenting, posting, and monitoring.
"I want people to have high expectations of the page but sometimes it's hard to meet them," she says. "You can't always meet the expectations. I'm just a resident too."
McLennan says she created the page two years ago after her son was diagnosed with autism. At first, she drowned herself in articles and library books to learn about what she was dealing with, she says.
Eventually, she says she needed to crawl out of the wall she build around herself and decided to heal by helping others. A stay-at-home mom, McLennan says the website gave her an opportunity to take care of her family while staying in the know about the community. Then she laughs, and admits she's also a bit of a socialist.
"I believe if you look after your family and your friends and after the neighbourhood that's closest to you then that gives everyone the ability to pay it forward," she says.
The website first popped up on Facebook in May 2011. An article in the Gazette followed soon after, asking whether McLennan was a city employee. "No," she laughs, adding that the entire website is volunteer-based.
Thanks to the article, she met John Carle though, a local realtor who started another community Facebook site around the same time. Carle and McLennan went for coffee one day and decided to combine their pages. They have been friends ever since.
"We come from very different point of views but I always enjoyed having a partner to bounce ideas off," Carle says about McLennan. "When she gets a little hot-headed and upset I can be the voice of reason, and when I get more often hot-headed and upset she can be the voice of reason."
Despite varying political views – Carle says he's is a capitalist by trade – the two have a lot in common.
Carle, originally moved from Montreal, says he loves the community spirit and friendliness in St. Albert, the school system, the acceptance of different opinions and the security of the city. He remembers creating his original page so people could find advice and meet one another.
McLennan grew up in a multi-cultural neighbourhood in Edmonton, learned to use chopsticks in Grade 3 and remained an aficionado of different cultures and people since. She says she cares deeply about putting local events first and giving people a voice to discuss their concerns.
Both are in their late 30s, live only four blocks apart, have children with disabilities and half-jokingly admit to spending too much time online. But thanks to their commitment, the page grew from 500 members in the first six months, to 1,000 in a year and now almost 5,000.
"It fascinates me and excites me at the same time, the diversity of discussion on the page," Carle says. "We have everything from lost pets to bylaw complaints about a church. And with nearly 5,000 people we don't have to censor that many people. Most people are really very respectful."
While Carle monitors posts for foul language and unwanted advertising, McLennan sifts through comments and often looks up information. As their membership numbers grow, they bring in new volunteers to allow for time off in the summer and on long weekends.
McLennan is still careful about writing replies in her name but says the site opened her door to the community at a time when people worry more and more about talking to strangers. That alone, she says, is worth the effort – although it can get overwhelming.
"I feel connected to faces I don't even know and I feel a connection and responsibility to those people. I don't want to leave them in a lurch wondering who is going to fix their dish washer," she laughs. "But sometimes I have to allow myself a break too."
Q AND A
If the Internet shut down forever tomorrow – what would you do?
My children are getting older so I would probably do a lot more volunteering. And I will probably do that anyway. I would still be a socialist (laughs), and travel.
What's your favourite place in St. Albert that's not a business?
In St. Albert Place there is a little alcove around the corner from the main doors with some tables and chairs and it's just a nice, casual little place to take a rest and read a book and watch the world go by.
What's a recipe you always wanted to learn?
I still have no idea how to cook an artichoke … I would love a chef from every culture to come into my home and teach me their cultural cuisine.
Where would you travel to if you could?
I have still not seen the East Coast of Canada and I would love to do that. I have never been across country and one year I hope to start at one end and take a train trip across. I want to go to the Just for Laughs festival. I would love to experience every festival there is in Canada.
What's your favourite activity to do with your children?
Story time. They are getting older so they don't want to cuddle as much. And I love to read and we have a library of books so reading is definitely my favourite thing to do with them.
