The City of Airdrie welcomed a special guest today (July 4th) as the Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities toured the City. 

Amarjeet Sohi, the Liberal MP for Edmonton-Mill Woods, was in Airdrie today as part of a province-wide tour for the government’s Smart Cities Challenge.

Federal Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi (centre) met with City of Airdrie staff today for the Smart Cities initiative.

Sohi said that visiting the cities helps the government see how communities across the country are doing.

“It’s really an opportunity for me to connect with local leaders, local stakeholders and partners and understand how we as a Federal Government can work better with them. I think our approach is different, our approach is that local decisions are better decisions and the Federal Government should be promoting those local decisions.”

Sohi joined City Council and members of the Airdrie and Area Health Benefits Co-op on an Airdrie Transit bus where he visited Genesis Place, Nose Creek Park before arriving at City Hall and an applause from City staff.

When it comes to Airdrie’s Smart Cities application, Sohi says he’s quite pleased with what the City has come up with.

“It is a very exciting initiative, using technology and empowering people through that technology to take control of their own health and well-being.”

Airdrie is on a short list for a $10 million prize for their Smart Cities project, to create a locally based Health Care network.

Sohi says he was pleased with the Smart Cities initiative and the community itself.

“It’s a beautiful community, beautiful people. I think that enthusiasm is very, very important for us to be engaged with the entire community in a way that all people feel that they’re a part of it. They all feel belonged and all they all feel that they were involved in something unique happening in this community.”

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