Page 14 - 01-Jan-Feb-2025

PUBLISHER’S NOTE
ROLL UP
OUR
SLEEVES
Hope looks forward.
Edmonton enters 2025 as it always does — in the
dark and cold. I’m not a person who enjoys winter at
all. I lived my early years on the west coast, so I never
learned to like the cold. I find other ways to celebrate
our winter city.
One thing is that I find magic in conversations and
idea sharing that happens when we gather indoors —
usually over a meal, or a great cup of coffee. As a
publisher, I get to talk to people who are creative,
thought provoking and resilient. I’ve talked to Top 40
Under 40 alumni who are bursting with positivity;
artists who see our city as a place of collaboration
and creativity; and city builders with big thoughts on
housing and retaining our iconic buildings. And I see the
glimmer of progress as people come together to solve
the challenges facing our downtown.
There’s a sense of hope. I’ve been thinking about that
word — hope — partly because I’m sensing a shift in the
zeitgeist of our city toward something that is good and
worthy and more positive than it’s been. It feels more
forward-looking than it has in a while.
My friend, Lisa Austin, and I are cohosts of a podcast,
CroneCast (cronecast.ca). It’s a bit of a passion project
for us as we dispel the notion that being an older
woman means your life is over. In a recent episode we
interviewed University of Alberta professor Dr. Denise
Larsen, whose work has a focus on the role of hope in
our lives. When I asked her about the difference between
hope and wishful thinking she quoted David Orr: “hope
is a verb with its sleeves rolled up.”
That’s our city right now. We are a verb with our
sleeves rolled up.
Embrace the hope in our city. Share it. Donate to a
charity — a small amount makes a big difference. Eat in
a local restaurant. Go for coffee in your own neighbour-
hood or downtown at a locally owned cafe. Buy a ticket
to a performance or the Art Gallery of Alberta. Visit the
Royal Alberta Museum. Hang out at a local music venue.
Shop at a store where the owner lives in the area. If we
all did just one of these things this month, we’d make a
tremendous impact.
There’s power in doing one good thing, especially
if we do it together. Let’s all roll up our sleeves; it
creates hope.
Trudy Callaghan
Publisher
Scan here to see bundles. →
Please choose one.
We can make it together.
14 EDify. JANUARY • FEBRUARY.25