Growing up I was frequently told to go back to my reserve, that I did not belong here, and so I was faced with the ugly reality of ignorance and the deep racism that lies in the foundations of this city and amongst many of its citizens.

Why did people visit Calgary? Why did they move here? Why not somewhere else? And what does where we’re from tell us about where we’re headed?

There are many great things that have come from this city, but it's not synonymous with Black, Blackness, Black people, Black achievement, Black excellence, Black accomplishment, Black communities. All those things are here.

I know because I am witness to or have experienced all of those things.

Young people have seen the lack of opportunities for several years between the crash in the oil and gas sector and the desire for more action on climate change. Neither of those issues are being addressed to a point of satisfaction, especially by the provincial government. So it’s not surprising young people are choosing to go places where there are opportunities to grow and where the government isn’t openly hostile towards you.

As the year draws to a close, the Calgary on Purpose team is taking time to reflect on the ups and downs that 2020 brought. Like many others, pandemic restrictions forced us to find a new approach to discovering the story of Calgary.

Honesty. Humility. Respect. Diversity. Generous Listening. Creativity. Between us Calgarians, let’s live the virtues that make us strong and resilient for the here-and-now, and for the possibility of a flourishing future.

According to the UN, 55% of the world's population currently lives in cities. By 2050, that number is expected to reach 68%. Behind this simple number is a reminder that cities are fundamentally about people.