Bridgeland – Meet Your Board Member: Bonnie Kemp – April 2023

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How did you first get involved with BRCA as a volunteer?

I first got involved with the BRCA when I was hired as the Soccer Coordinator for the 2020 season. Though we were unable to move ahead with the 2020 soccer season (or the 2021 season!) due to COVID restrictions, I still wanted to play a role in supporting the community, so in 2020 I joined the BRCA Board as the Director of Planning and Transportation.

What led you to consider serving on the Board?

Having always lived in a neighbourhood with community associations, I’ve have always seen first hand the benefits of having an organized group responsible for ensuring that the community prospers and meets the needs of its members. With the many changes happening in Bridgeland, I felt it was important to play an active role in how my neighbourhood moved into the future.

What is involved in being a Board member?

Being a Board member means collaborating with the other Board members, surrounding communities, and our neighbours to represent and advocate for the needs of our community. As the Planning and Transportation Director, this means working closely with those impacted by proposed building developments and transportation initiatives, and providing feedback on proposals which reflects neighbours’ concerns and excitements. We also work closely with our Councillor and the Ward 9 office to develop policies that will continue to ensure that Bridgeland-Riverside grows in a positive direction.

The BRCA Planning Committee is very busy, and currently has over 100 active applications. This requires significant volunteer time and means we need many volunteers to share the workload. If you’re interested in joining the Planning Committee, please reach out for more information!

What do you enjoy about being a BRCA Board member?

Having moved to Calgary in 2019, the BRCA Board has been a fantastic way to meet people in the neighbourhood and get to learn more about Calgary. Being actively involved in understanding and solving local challenges while providing opportunities for neighbours to engage, collaborate, and better our neighbourhood, has made volunteering a worthwhile and rewarding experience.

What would you say to community members about joining the Board?

Bridgeland Riverside is actively growing and developing, and we are at a pivotal time in our development. Walk the talk and join the Board to play a role in bringing the community together and contributing to the Bridgeland-Riverside of tomorrow.