Being an ally isn’t a passive title we choose to give ourselves, it’s an active verb that everyone- including elected officials should be ‘walking the talk’ everyday. Even in 2026 when most of us like to think that we have come so far in accepting our neighbours, 2SLGBTQIA+ residents are facing an alarming rise in hate-motivated crimes and discrimination, this is why I pushed for this to come forward, for the City to move past supportive words to take measurable action.
This week, City Council officially adopted Beyond Belonging: The 2SLGBTQIA+ Safe Spaces Action Plan. This multi-year roadmap is designed to connect safety, inclusion, and a deep sense of community directly into our public spaces and municipal operations.
This isn’t a top-down policy created in a vacuum. The plan reflects the lived experiences and voices of more than 900 2SLGBTQIA+ Edmontonians and 40 local service organizations who participated in extensive community engagements throughout 2025.
Running from 2026 to 2029, the plan sets out 7 core action areas backed by 53 measurable subactions across various city departments that benefits so many people:
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Designing Inclusive Public Spaces: Upgrading parks, transit, and recreation centres so everyone feels physically safe and welcomed.
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Standing Boldly Against Hate: Visibly leading the charge to address discrimination, hate incidents, and public harm.
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Action Over Symbols: Moving past empty gestures by ensuring internal City culture, staffing, and programs consistently reflect true inclusive values.
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An Intersectional Approach: Prioritizing support for those who face compounding barriers, including Indigenous and BIPOC trans and non-binary residents.
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Mandatory Education: Implementing mandatory training for City staff and creating public awareness campaigns to dismantle misinformation.
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Everyday Representation: Integrating queer representation and visibility into normal, day-to-day municipal operations rather than limiting it to "special events."
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Voices in Leadership: Creating clear mechanisms so 2SLGBTQIA+ residents are actively making the decisions that impact their lives.
We aren't waiting around to get started. In fact, 50% of the plan's subactions are already underway.
I am incredibly grateful to my council colleagues from both this term and last- for supporting this at every step along the way. For standing up and saying that every Edmontonian has a place in our city, whether it’s in their neighborhood, a chosen community, or Edmonton as a whole.
Beyond Belonging is our collective commitment to ensuring that space is safe, authentic, and truly yours.
You can read the full breakdown of the 53 subactions and the City's progress evaluation framework on the City of Edmonton's website. https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/initiatives_innovation/safe-spaces-action-plan
Erin.
