How Community Volunteers Can Be Changemakers – Bridgeland

June 30, 2025

by Ali McMillan

As a long-time community volunteer, I’ve seen firsthand how small, persistent efforts can create lasting change. Being a volunteer isn’t just about lending a helping hand—it’s about helping shape the kind of neighbourhood you want to live in. It’s about being a changemaker.

When people think of change, they often imagine sweeping, dramatic efforts driven by governments or organizations. But some of the most meaningful and visible improvements in our communities come from the ground up, through residents who care enough to act. Volunteers who contribute their time, creativity, and commitment can spark movements that reimagine public spaces, build connections between neighbours, and strengthen the fabric of a community.

Change Begins with One Idea

In Bridgeland-Riverside, I was fortunate to be part of a team of passionate volunteers who believed in making our public spaces more welcoming, playful, and beautiful. Many of our projects began as small ideas—sometimes sketched on the back of napkins at community meetings—and grew into transformative spaces through collaboration, persistence, and a little imagination.

Flyover Park is a perfect example. What was once an overlooked and unloved patch of land beneath a highway overpass became an award-winning public park thanks to the dedication of local residents, the Bridgeland-Riverside Community Association (BRCA) planning committee, and enthusiastic youth designers from Riverside School. We wanted to show that even challenging spaces could be turned into vibrant hubs of community life. Today, Flyover Park is filled with bright colours, climbing structures, and seating areas that invite people to gather and play in a space that once seemed forgotten.

Reclaiming and Reimagining Public Space

Another initiative close to my heart is the Bridgeland “Hollywood”-style sign that proudly greets visitors at the entrance to our neighbourhood. While the sign was already a beloved landmark, we saw an opportunity to enhance its surroundings. My favourite part was when our dear sign was hit by a car and wiped out half the letters, creative residents stepped up and turned it into Bridgelalaland, Bridgela, someone even dressed as the missing “D” for Halloween. Don’t we just have the best neighbours?

Our Piazza, located in the heart of Bridgeland, is another space we reimagined. Originally just a patch of brickwork, we added tables, chairs, and string lighting to encourage people to linger and connect. What used to be a pass-through is now a destination: a place for coffee dates, foosball (thanks, Ahmed!), and chance encounters. These changes may seem modest, but they help create a sense of place and belonging.

One of the most energizing community projects we supported was the Bridgeland basketball court in Murdoch Park. This space was transformed into a colourful, welcoming court through community-led design. The mural-covered surface and updated amenities turned it into a magnet for kids, teens, and adults alike. Now it’s not only a spot for pickup games but also a symbol of inclusive, active public space that invites people of all ages and backgrounds to gather and play.

Art as a Catalyst

Murals and signage also play a big role in defining a community’s character. Along with other volunteers, I helped spearhead the creation of murals at the entrance to Bridgeland, on the Flyover and in the Piazza. These works of art bring beauty to blank walls and tell stories about who we are. They reflect our neighbourhood’s history, diversity, and creative spirit.

In a similar vein, we installed Bridgeland-specific wayfinding signs and maps—playful, easy-to-read markers that help both residents and visitors explore the neighbourhood. These signs do more than direct foot traffic; they help knit the community together by pointing out hidden gems and reinforcing a sense of identity.

Lessons for Other Changemakers

If there’s one message I want to share, it’s that you don’t need a title or a budget to make a difference. Start with what you care about. Talk to your neighbours. Join your community association. Find the spaces that are being overlooked and ask, “what if?”

Change doesn’t always come quickly, and it rarely comes easily. But when you see your neighbours smiling in a park that didn’t exist a year ago—or lingering under lights you helped hang—it’s all worth it.

The power of community volunteering lies in its ability to turn ordinary people into extraordinary changemakers. We don’t just live in our neighbourhoods—we shape them. And with creativity, collaboration, and a bit of courage, we can make them places where everyone feels they belong.

Ali McMillan is a passionate community volunteer and former planning director with the Bridgeland-Riverside Community Association. She has been involved in numerous grassroots projects that have helped transform Bridgeland into one of Calgary’s most vibrant, engaged, and welcoming neighbourhoods.