The City of Edmonton is pleased to announce the selected projects receiving funding under the Participatory Budgeting Pilot for Balwin and Belvedere neighbourhoods. 

Through this pilot, community members and neighbourhood residents were invited to propose project ideas and/or engage in the community voting process to help choose where and how to distribute up to $70,000 in Neighborhood Revitalization funding. Each of the eligible proposed projects were small, on-the-ground ideas, intended to create positive change in Balwin and/or Belvedere neighbourhoods.

More than 700 votes were submitted from community members, who were able to cast up to three unique votes from the list of proposed projects. Voting was made available both online and in-person at a community voting event held on November 22 at Balwin Community League Hall. 

“The City was extremely pleased to see the high level of interest that the community has shown throughout this exciting, new process,” said Lori Angus, Management Supervisor, Neighbourhood Services Revitalization. “We are looking forward to supporting the selected projects, as voted by residents and community members, and to implement these amazing ideas that seek to foster a greater sense of community and improve the surrounding area.”

The following six community projects were selected to receive funding:

A year-long celebration with four community events: a spring treasure hunt, a summer kick-off, a fall potluck and soccer party, and a winter festival. These events seek to meet the community's need for social cohesion, cultural enrichment and a sense of belonging.

Bring community members together through a year-round celebration, featuring events like a Winter Festival, Movies under the Stars, Neighbour Day BBQ, return of the Fall Festival, and a rink-opening and Christmas Celebration with skating, crafts and treats.

Address the need for a meeting place for youth ages 8 and up to learn a variety of skills, and enjoy interacting with each other and community members of all ages.

Invigorate the Balwin community by fostering good neighbour relationships and build a sense of pride in the community by hosting two events: a Spring celebration with musical acts and a Summer BBQ in collaboration with KARA Family Resource Centre; and one program: a subsidized seniors fitness program at the Balwin Community League Hall. Funds will also be used to create a website.

Princeton School will plan and implement a public mural that will bring more colour and vibrancy into the community and on school grounds. The mural will represent the diversity of backgrounds reflected in the community. The funding will allow the school to consult with the broader community, and plan and create the mural by fall 2024. 

Public art murals at Balwin School that will visually and socially connect community members. Students, families, and community artists will be involved and will seek to create an inclusive environment, with diverse visual representations (including Indigenous culture and multicultural connections).

In 2022, City Councillors Keren Tang (Ward Karhiio) and Andrew Knack (Ward Nakota Isga) piloted the City of Edmonton’s first “Community-Based Budgeting” project. Through collaborative and interactive processes, Ward Karhiio and Ward Nakota Isga community members were invited to help decide how to invest the designated budget. Funding came from the Councillors’ office budgets. 

Participatory budgeting started in Brazil in 1989, as a democratic process for community members to engage in deciding how to spend part of a public budget. Participatory budgeting has been used in over 7,000 cities around the world to direct spending in states, counties, cities, housing authorities, schools and other institutions.

Communications Advisor

Community Services