As a community, like it or not, we are all involved and have a responsibility in bringing about a fair and just resolution to the issue of the Habitat for Humanity project in Akinsdale.
Everyone, I believe, has a measure of altruism built into his or her genes. How this plays out in one’s lifetime is part of life’s mystery and here I am, finding myself engaged in the current energy-charged debate, centred on Habitat for Humanity’s Akinsdale project. Flight from this issue is not an option for me, even though I do not like fighting and the adversarial atmosphere and tension that it brings. I wish things could be different, but reality paints another picture and it is this scene that occupies my current community focus.
Over the past three years I have been interested in the issue of affordable housing. I have attended workshops, joined groups involved in the issue and read various documents and research provided by the City of St. Albert. I also had the privilege to participate in the St. Albert North Ridge Habitat build, along with 900 other volunteers. The energy, sense of community and generosity was uplifting and life giving. It was an experience that did give witness to the new St. Albert brand, “Cultivate Life.” I felt good about being part of something that was much bigger than myself. I believe that this is what Habitat for Humanity is all about.
It is this international humanitarian organization that has been invited into our community to help in providing very much-needed affordable housing. Plenty of time, effort and money has already been given to this Akinsdale project, not only by Habitat but by the good-willed partners of Stantec and Apollo Developments. For the community to now deny Habitat and these two companies access to this property and the building of this project, would be an insult.
I am hoping that cooler and reasonable heads prevail and that this project does go ahead, without the rancour and NIMBY attitude that seem to be building.
The aftermath of a fight is never pretty and if this project is approved I’m not certain those new St. Albert homeowners occupying these homes will be looking forward to the welcome mat provided by their opposing neighbours.
Hopefully, St. Albert residents will become engaged, become familiar with the issue, get the correct information, which is available from city administration, and help empower our city council to make its decision. This project has my vote and support.
Although not an Akinsdale voice, I believe I have a right to be heard. It is my belief that if the citizens of St. Albert have the correct information and sufficient information, they will do the right thing. This belief, after all, is based on the fundamental premise of our democratic system.
Wilf Borgstede, St. Albert
