New Game Plan: Edmonton's Next Gen
User Story
By Dianna
I came to Edmonton from Vancouver a few years ago to pursue my PhD. The program at the University of Alberta is world class and I was so excited. However, upon hearing I was relocating to Edmonton my friends were aghast. “Why would you go there?” they asked. Others chimed in, “What a horrible place, dirty and backwards place and worst of all they have winter 6 months of the year!”. Increasingly uneasy, I arrived in Edmonton at the height of the boom only to discover that I found the city to be all of those things as well as incredibly expensive and hugely isolating! I had an incredibly difficult time connecting with other civic-minded young professionals and to the city of Edmonton itself. I knew that Edmonton had to have other young people like myself but no matter where I looked I couldn’t find them. All in all, I was miserable that first year…
In my second year in the city I realized that I needed a new game plan. I decided that I would have to continue to reach out to find what was good about Edmonton but that I needed an organization or group to assist in my search and point me in the right direction. After much searching, I found an organization called NextGen whose mission it is to attract and give voice to Edmonton’s next generation (namely adults 18-40 years). I applied to become involved with NextGen and what a difference it has made in my view of the city! Finally I had found the amazing group of young professionals I had been seeking. The fact that they are dedicated to making the city a better place was icing on the cake. I love working with the group (even in my small way as a committee group volunteer) to make a difference for young people in Edmonton. Now I’m able to talk about many of the benefits Edmonton has to offer to other young people and truly mean it – thanks NextGen!
