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Recognize Your Good Neighbour

February 02, 2010

A good neighbour makes a great neighbourhood and the City of Edmonton and the REALTORS Association want to hear about these special people in your life.

Nominations opened today for the third annual Good Neighbour Awards. The awards are a way for Edmontonians to formally recognize citizens for the everyday difference they make in their neighbourhoods:

• The teenager next door who rakes your leaves or babysits your kids.
• The neighbour who keeps an eye out on your home while you're away.
• The corner store owner who has a friendly smile for an elderly customer.
• The librarian who takes time to find that special book you want to borrow.
• The school resource officer who takes the time to chat in school hallways.

“When we know our neighbours, we have safer, more connected neighbourhoods,” said Councillor Amarjeet Sohi. “The Good Neighbour program is an excellent way to recognize ordinary citizens who make a difference in the lives of the people next door while helping prevent crime and improving community safety.”

Lindsay Kelly, co-chair of the Edmonton Taskforce on Community Safety says the program is consistent with the recommendations outlined in the REACH report. “The Good Neighbour Awards help promote crime prevention at the individual level. As an advocate of community safety through my work with the REACH report, this is exactly the type of program that not only helps create a city where people feel safe, but where they are safe.”

Any Edmontonian can nominate their neighbour for the award by completing a nomination form. Winners will be selected by a selection committee representing members of government, business, not-for-profit and community interest groups. Award recipients will be chosen in each of current City wards and selected based on compelling, unique, or motivating stories that would inspire other Edmontonians to get to know their neighbours.

Each of the winners and their nominator will be recognized at a formal event during crime prevention week in May.

“REALTORS® both live and work in the community. Their families and clients are vitally interested in ensuring that there are good neighbours in every community”, said Larry Westergard, president of the REALTORS Association of Edmonton, a corporate program sponsor.

Last year, about 250 nominations were received and 29 good neighbours were recognized, nearly doubling the amount of nominations received during the first year of the program. Councillor Sohi hopes that number will continue to increase this year.

“I want to again thank all the nominees as well as their nominators from last year and I look forward to reading more great stories this year,” he said. “And speaking of stories, after you’ve filled out our nomination form, head over to edmontonstories.ca and tell the world your good neighbour story there.”

Nominations close on March 1.

For more information:

John Muir