In a city that often wrestles with bold change, the recent extension of Edmonton’s Capital City Community Revitalization Levy (CRL) stands as a testament to what we can accomplish when we work together. This was a moment of collective leadership—one that brought together residents, businesses, civic leaders and elected officials in pursuit of a better, more vibrant downtown. It showed, perhaps more than any policy in recent memory, the power of collaboration to cut through complexity and deliver a win for the entire city.
The CRL is not a simple tool. It’s a sophisticated, long-term financial instrument that reinvests the incremental tax revenue generated by new development back into the community. In plain terms, when downtown grows, the taxes from that growth help pay for the infrastructure, spaces and services needed to sustain it.
Tools like the CRL are only as powerful as the will to use them and for a time, that will was uncertain. There was skepticism—about the mechanics, the timelines, even the partnerships involved. There were ideological divides, questions of trust and debates over how cities should grow. It would have been easy for this to unravel into a political stalemate. Instead, something else happened. The community stepped up.
Over 800 letters of support flooded into Council. Dozens of stakeholder meetings were held. A public toolkit was launched and citizens from across the city used it to make their voices heard. Public hearings were filled with diverse voices. The business community, arts organizations and everyday Edmontonians filled the record with stories, facts and urgency. In-depth data and reports from city administration ensured this decision was informed by more than opinion.
At the heart of it all was a shared belief: that downtown Edmonton matters. Not just to those who live or work there, but to the entire region. Our downtown is the face we show to investors, visitors and future generations. Its health reflects our economic resilience. Its vibrancy shapes our identity.
We made the case—not just for an extension of the CRL, but for a broader truth: that public and private sectors must work together if we’re serious about building a city that lasts.
Public-private partnerships have been quietly delivering major wins for cities across North America. When structured well, they unlock the kind of catalytic projects—mid-size venues, housing, innovation spaces—that no single entity could achieve alone. Edmonton’s Capital City CRL has already demonstrated this with transformative projects like the ICE District and Alex Decoteau Park.
This success wasn’t inevitable; it was earned. On a late Friday night in the middle of the summer, in a very split council vote, the project passed. It happened because people pushed past political comfort zones, rolled up their sleeves and chose partnership over partisanship.
We still have work to do. There are more projects to greenlight, more partnerships to build, more Edmontonians to bring along for the journey. However, for now, we can pause and celebrate what happens when Edmonton comes together with clarity, courage, and a common purpose.
