Positive Vibes: Building a Balanced Vision for Edmonton

It’s no secret that our local government has room for improvement. In fact, I think even the most enthusiastic defenders of the status quo would agree that there are areas where the City of Edmonton could do better. From conversations on doorsteps to the buzz on social media and headlines in the news, the prevailing narrative often leans toward frustration, discontent, and critique.

And while those critiques are important—essential even, especially in a democracy—they shouldn’t be the only story we tell. They shouldn’t overshadow the moments of progress, the policies that work, or the services that make a meaningful impact in people’s daily lives. That’s why I want to take a different tone with this blog. Today, I’m choosing to focus on the positive.

Let’s be clear: not everything City Council has done is bad. Not every department is broken. Not every program is mismanaged. It might be more convenient for political talking points to paint things in black and white, but the reality is more nuanced. And if we want to build a better future for Edmonton, we need to recognize that nuance.

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The Importance of Balanced Dialogue

There is an emotional and psychological toll to constant negativity. It breeds cynicism, contributes to voter apathy, and ultimately discourages meaningful participation. When people feel like nothing good is happening, they disengage. And that’s dangerous.

The truth is, there are things the City does well. I hear it sometimes at the door: the parent who appreciates their local library branch, the senior who’s grateful for snow-clearing on their street, the cyclist who loves the growing network of bike lanes, or the community volunteer who relies on support from City-run programs.

While I’m intentionally choosing not to list these examples in detail—because I don’t want to unintentionally spark a flood of negative commentary or debate—I do want to highlight something important: joy matters. Feeling pride in your community matters. These small wins help anchor our sense of belonging and optimism.

Giving Credit Where It’s Due

One decision I believe deserves recognition is City Council’s move to implement Zero-Based Budgeting for the next fiscal cycle. Rather than simply rolling over last year’s budget and adding incremental changes, they’re starting from scratch. This approach allows for a more thoughtful, strategic assessment of spending priorities, and I think it opens up real opportunities for innovation and accountability.

This isn’t a flashy, headline-grabbing change, but it is meaningful. It signals a willingness to challenge the status quo and seek out better ways to allocate public resources. And it also creates space for you—residents, taxpayers, families, and business owners—to have a greater voice in shaping the budget from the ground up.

A New Kind of Campaign Conversation

As a candidate, I’m committed to listening to what’s really on your mind—the good, the bad, and everything in between. Too often, politics becomes a contest of who can shout the loudest about what’s wrong. But I want to change that tone. I want to hear what’s working for you.

Maybe it’s a City-run art program that helped your child grow in confidence. Maybe it’s the sense of safety and community you feel at your local rec centre. Or maybe it’s something as simple as well-maintained sidewalks or a friendly City employee who went the extra mile.

These things matter. They give us a glimpse of what’s possible when governance works. They help us understand where to direct more support, where to scale up, and where we might find hidden success stories that can serve as blueprints for other areas.

That’s why, starting today, I’ve added a new section to the survey on my campaign website: a space for you to tell me something positive. What do you like about what the City is doing? What’s something worth continuing, expanding, or improving for even more impact?

If you’ve already filled out the survey, that’s okay! You can always send me a quick email or text to share your thoughts. I want to know what you value, so we can build from there.

Why Positivity Isn’t Naive—It’s Necessary

Some people might say that focusing on the positive is naive or soft. I disagree. Choosing to highlight what works doesn’t mean ignoring what’s broken. It means creating a balanced perspective that enables more effective problem-solving.

When we understand what is working, we gain insight into how to fix what’s not. It also helps foster collaboration instead of division. We don’t need to tear everything down to build something better. Sometimes, we need to preserve and enhance the things that are already serving our communities well.

More importantly, this attitude supports civic resilience. In times of uncertainty, positive reinforcement can be a stabilizing force. It can help us navigate tough decisions with hope instead of despair. And it can reconnect people to their role as active, engaged citizens.

Looking Ahead

As we head into the next election cycle, I expect that campaign rhetoric will heat up. It always does. There will be plenty of finger-pointing and policy critiques—and I’ll admit, I’ll likely have some critiques of my own. But amidst all that, I want to make a promise to you: I will keep seeking out the good. I will keep asking, “What’s working?” and “How can we do more of it?”

This isn’t about sugar-coating or ignoring real problems. It’s about fostering a spirit of continuous improvement without losing sight of progress. It’s about recognizing that not everything is 100% good or bad. And it’s about making space for joy in the often-heavy world of politics.

How You Can Help

If you’re reading this and you’re nodding along—thinking of something the City has done that made a difference for you or your neighbourhood—I want to hear from you. Visit my website and fill out the survey, or drop me a note. Let’s start gathering stories of success, so we can grow them together.

Ultimately, building the future we all want for Edmonton means knowing what to preserve, what to improve, and what to let go of. It means creating space for honest criticism and genuine celebration.

Let’s make time for the positive. Let’s build a balanced vision for Edmonton.

To share your thoughts—positive or otherwise—please visit www.jasonbale.ca I look forward to hearing from you.