A Moment with the Mayor: Making your lemons into lemonade

We all know that if we put our imagination to work, we can come up with great ideas and solutions. The phrase “When life gives you lemons…make lemonade!” has been taking root and growing new solutions across the city.

Over the past few weeks, we have found ourselves changing our habits to something totally different. Shopping for the staples of life has you standing in line two metres from the person ahead of you, constantly wiping down carts and following directional signage on the ground that typically isn’t. I have found myself down aisles that I didn’t know existed…the snack foods I had long forgotten about seemed to jump into my cart.

Maybe you’re now utilizing the click and collect model that many stores have adopted. Online shopping from your device or screen and then just stopping by the store to pick up your order rather than negotiating the above store protocol. The list is long and endless of local businesses stretching their imaginations and using their unique abilities and products to provide for their customers. Even car dealerships are finding new and creative ways to reach customers in our current situation.

As we work through the challenges, we show resilience through innovation and developing new ways to communicate on a global scale. As a city, we have shifted to virtual city council meetings with members of council able to meet, debate and vote on council business from their homes or other remote locations. City administration continues to explore options to allow public discussions with residents. Look for opportunities to get involved and share your voice in our deliberations and decision-making.

I look forward to being free to chat over a coffee or green tea at one of our great restaurants or establishments in our city once the restrictions are lifted. Until then, we can wave and smile and chat virtually. No matter how or where—together we can get through this!

Mayor Gerald S. Aalbers
City of Lloydminster