Councillor Kristen Shima

06/02/2026

Engaged people build strong cities.

One of my favourite social scientists is Robert Putnam. He introduced the concept of Social Capital. I enjoyed learning about his concepts and theories over the years, including civic engagement theory. From all the books and articles I have read by Robert Putnam, 'Bowling Alone' was my favourite.

In this book, Putnam observed that while people continued to participate in activities such as bowling, they were increasingly doing so alone rather than as part of leagues, clubs, or community organizations. He used this trend as a symbol of a broader decline in community involvement, volunteerism, civic engagement, and trust among citizens. Overall, there is a slow erosion of everyday engagement, from fewer people moving through shared spaces to fewer unplanned conversations. This decline is unsettling, as it is the nourishment to build strong cities and communities.

His research found that people who join a club or regularly engage in community life reduce their risk of early mortality by nearly 50%, simply by being connected.

So... what is Social Capital?

Putnam's most influential theory is Social Capital, which refers to the networks, relationships, trust, and norms that enable people to work together effectively.

Examples of social capital:

- Neighbours helping one another
- Community associations and clubs
- Volunteer organizations
- Trust between citizens and institutions

Putnam argued that communities with high social capital tend to have:

- Stronger economies
- Better government performance
- Lower crime rates
- Better health and educational outcomes

Overall, research and evidence indicate that communities thrive when people show up. It is about engagement and connection, showing up physically, relationally, and repeatedly.

So... to increase social capital, you can volunteer, join a group, connect at events, host community gatherings, participate in activities, visit seniors, coach teams, etc,..., and get outside regularly and connect to YOUR CITY! Ultimately, you are part of Airdrie's success.

06/02/2026

Celebrating Seniors week in Airdrie! Check out all the great activities, events, and celebrations this week with Airdrie Seniors Connections ....

06/02/2026

Check out this information about e-scooters and tips below…

Sidewalk or pathway? It matters.

❓Did you know❓ Private e-scooters are for pathways only. Only shared e-scooters can be used on roads and sidewalks.

Why? Under Alberta law, private e-scooters are classified as ‘miniature vehicles,’ which are technically only allowed on private property. Because they’re widely used, the City of Airdrie permits them on pathways as a practical exception. Shared e-scooters follow a separate set of rules under a provincial pilot program.

Ride smart. Ride safe. airdrie.ca/escooters

06/01/2026

Hello Neighbours! This Tuesday is the next City of Airdrie council meeting. Check out the agenda!

https://www.airdrie.ca/index.cfm?serviceID=1967

I feel that going through the agenda items for upcoming Council meetings as a resident keeps everyone informed about decisions affecting taxes, infrastructure, developments, services, and businesses. It shows residents how public funds are spent and offers ways to get involved and help shape Airdrie. Residents can watch live meetings online, come in person, or watch recorded versions to advance to a select topic.

Airdrie City Council holds regular meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month, starting with public hearings at 1:00 p.m., followed by the regular agenda.

05/31/2026

This is Airdrie.

Here are some highlights I reflected on, as an inspiring weekend filled with community engagement, celebration, and support for local initiatives across Airdrie.

Highlights included the groundbreaking ceremony for a new FrancoSud school, marking an important step toward expanding French-language education opportunities for Francophone families in Airdrie and the surrounding region.

On Monday evening, local youth gathered at City Hall for the (ABYA) Youth Town Hall, providing an opportunity for young residents to share their perspectives and engage in civic discussions.

St. Paul's Catholic Church hosted a Spring Market event to support local makers and fundraising efforts, where attendees enjoyed handcrafted goods and baking...including a home-grown raspberry pie (it was delicious Cathy B.).

Further community spirit was on display at the annual Airdrie Bark in the Park hosted by Kiwanis Airdrie, raising support for children's programming while bringing together families and their pets.

The Guru Nanak Free Kitchen Calgary continued its monthly outreach by providing free groceries to families and individuals in need, demonstrating the ongoing commitment to helping vulnerable residents in the community.

At the (Royal Canadian Legion Branch 288), a successful garage sale helped raise funds while connecting residents with local community groups, including members of the (Airdrie Men's Shed). Airdrie Men's Shed is a community-driven organization that work together to support building opportunities and projects in Airdrie for those in need!

The weekend concluded with the local launch of the The City of Airdrie ParticipACTION Community Challenge, encouraging Airdrie residents to stay active throughout the month of June and contribute to a healthier, more connected community. Make sure you sign up for our community to win $100,000 and support being active:) Also, congratulations for Be***rs Fun Cuts opening a new location in Airdrie and to all the new Elite Athletes to join the wall at Genesis Place Recreation Centre.

Thank you Airdrie for all you do. We are all very grateful and proud!

05/31/2026

Join us for a Town Hall event!

Monday, June 15, 2026
6:30 - 8 p.m.
Bert Church LIVE Theatre
Airdrie Town Hall is your opportunity to connect directly with your Mayor and Council.

Hear updates on key City initiatives and the roadmap ahead
Learn about Council’s priorities
Meet your Mayor, Council and Senior City Administration
Ask questions and share your perspective
Your voice matters and your feedback helps shape decisions in our community.

https://www.airdrie.ca/index.cfm?serviceID=2970

Mandatory registration
Register on or before June 11, 2026. Registration is mandatory so that we can comply with the building's safety code and make arrangements for a safe and comfortable experience for all attendees. A recording will be available after the event for those unable to attend.

05/31/2026

The City of Airdrie has launched a redesigned myAIRDRIE online services portal to improve how residents and businesses access City services. Since its launch in 2014, myAIRDRIE has become one of the City’s most-used digital platforms and this updated portal reflects the City’s commitment to delivering a modern, service-focused customer experience.

The new myAIRDRIE platform is LIVE!

What is new?

- A mobile-first, app-like experience
- One login for multiple City services
- A personalized dashboard with reminders and upcoming dates for added services
- Easier account and payment management
- Improved notifications and alerts
- Streamlined forms and navigation
- An online help guide
- After launch, all existing accounts will remain active. Customers will be prompted to create a new password before accessing their account, in line with enhanced security standards.

Visit https://www.airdrie.ca/index.cfm?serviceID=2972

05/31/2026

The City of Airdrie is pleased to celebrate the accomplishments of Airdrie’s Elite Athletes in a ceremony held at the end of May.

The 2025 Airdrie Elite Athlete honorees are:

Nico Diaz – BMX 2023 Canadian National Championships (Bronze), 2021 Canadian National Championships (Gold), 2020 BMX Colombian National (Bronze), 2019 BMX National Championships (Silver)

Ronin Xavier Thompson – Box Lacrosse 2025 Canada Summer Games (Bronze), 2023 North American Indigenous Games (Bronze)

Colton Jackson-McConnell – Football 2025 Football Canada Cup (Gold)

Braylee Schell – Baseball 2023 Women’s National Championship (Bronze)

Sophie Howell – Triathlon 2025 Americas Championship Relay Team (Silver), 2025 U23 Americas Championship (Silver), 2023 Americas Championship Relay Team (Bronze), 2023 U23 Americas Championship (Bronze)

The Airdrie Elite Athlete program recognizes and commemorates athletic excellence in our community. Each recipient will be featured on the Elite Athlete Wall at Genesis Place, alongside a short biography highlighting their achievements.

For more information about the Airdrie Elite Athlete program or to submit a nomination for next year’s Elite Athlete Awards, visit airdrie.ca/eliteathlete

05/29/2026

Join me to volunteer or come out this Saturday for those in need. See below!

This weekend Airdrie will be so fortunate as the Guru Nanak Free Kitchen Calgary will return to Airdrie with truckloads of free food for those in need.

On Saturday, May 30th at 1PM volunteers and donors from the Guru Nanak Free Kitchen program will be at George MacDougall handing out a variety of food items.

Please share with anyone you know who may be in need.

05/27/2026

As a community and city-building nerd, I love digging into all the data and analytics on how populations grow and their development patterns. This population map is an interesting one to share!

As a country, Canada is vast, but this confirms that the concentration of populations shapes settlement patterns in major urban corridors and centers.

It indicates approximately 70% of Canadians live in mainly three major urban corridors - the Québec–Windsor Corridor, stretching from Québec City to Windsor through Montréal and Toronto; the Greater Vancouver area on the Pacific coast; and the Calgary–Edmonton Corridor in Alberta.

Why is this important? It tells the story of high-growth areas and population demand, indicating increasing pressures of community needs for decision-making at the federal and provincial government levels. Additionally, it indicates opportunity, development clusters, and innovation (amongst other things!)

Credit: The World In Maps