The last week has been full of inspiration. Meetings with community leaders have been encouraging, certainly, but I get a real lift out of meeting everyday citizens.

I make a point of speaking to everyone I meet at the doors with respect, just as Councillor Linda Sloan did to me when she was running for MLA back in 1997, a few months before I turned 18. Even though I told her I wasn’t able to vote for her in that election she spoke to me earnestly and answered my questions.

It was full circle for me last weekend as I met a young man in Falconer Heights who wasn’t yet 18, but we spoke at length about building a more sustainable Edmonton. After talking he asked when the election was and realized his 18th birthday is between now and October 15th. I had the impression that voting in this election wasn’t on his mind before I came to his door, but I think he’s excited about voting now, and I think I earned his vote.

It’s after doors like this that it really hits me that politics is (or at least should be) all about connecting with people, respecting them, listening to them, and engaging them.