Volunteers make our City the great place it is .....

I was privileged to attend a portion of City Council Meeting yesterday where Mayor Jeff Mulligan recognized Marlene Schonheiter for her long service to Streetscapes Co. Marlene was involved with Streetscapes from the very beginning, even before the bylaw was adopted by the City making it a self supporting entity that works to market and beautify the downtown. Marlene has participated in all aspects of the work of Streetscapes chairing the Marketing & Beautification committee for many years. Marlene has been a passionate supporter of the organization encouraging her colleagues to participate in the downtown clean-up each year.

the root, emporium was the location for this years Streetscapes AGM. This new eclectic restaurant downtown was also chosen as the recipient of the Best Interior Renovation when the Pride Awards were handed out. There were about 40 downtown Streetscapes members on hand to review the annual report and the financial reports as well as recognize Larry & Rob Olynyk for their work on restoration project for the clock on the heritage building at the corner of 50th AVe. and 50th Street.

Lloyd Wine Outfitters received the award for Best Exterior Renovation. The Furniture Clinic received the

Best Seasonal Display award

The Chamber of Commerce has taken on the challenge of continuing the dialogue on "Shaping Alberta's Future" that began with the Premiers Council on the Economy luncheon hosted by the Chamber in Lloydminster last June. The full document can be found at www.alberta.ca/premierscouncileconomicstrategy.cfm

The students of the Lakeland College Business Class - Speical Projects assisted the Chamber by producing a website which will be going live in the next week and by presenting this information to about 125 of their fellow students. The challenge of the premier to the council and the council to communities was:

> What must Albertans begin to do new to sustain prosperity through the next three decades and beyond

> How can we ensure our children and grandchildren enjoy even greater opportunity than we have - that we hand future generations a legacy of "a better Alberta".

> What will it take to  make the Alberta of 2040 the place for creative and committed citizens to live, work, raise families, contribute to and enjoy society.

I hope that you will contemplate these questions and consider how you might participate in "Guiding the Future" of Alberta right here in Lloydminster. Check out the website at  www.guidethefuture.net   any time after April 16th.

Till next time .....

Pat