Make Something Edmonton

{{Short description|Canadian city's community initiative (2013–2020)}}

File:Statements_of_Encouragement_(16475068733).jpg

Make Something Edmonton is a community building initiative that resulted from the creation of a task force on the city's image and reputation, approved in July 2012 by the city council in Edmonton, Alberta.{{cite web |title=City Council reviews draft economic development strategy |date=2012-07-18 |publisher=City of Edmonton |url=http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/news/2012/council-roundup-july-18-2012.aspx |access-date=2013-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007202936/http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/news/2012/council-roundup-july-18-2012.aspx |archive-date=2012-10-07 |url-status=dead}} The task force was co-chaired by entrepreneurs Maureen McCaw (a onetime Chair of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce) and Chris LaBossiere.

The work of the task force resulted in Make Something Edmonton, launched in March 2013.{{cite web |title=Happy Launch Day |date=2013-03-21 |publisher=Make Something Edmonton |url=http://www.makesomethingedmonton.ca/news/2013/mar/21/happy-launch-day/ |access-date=2024-01-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328015153/http://www.makesomethingedmonton.ca/news/2013/mar/21/happy-launch-day/ |archive-date=2013-03-28 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |title=Thoughts arising from Make Something Edmonton |first=Karen |last=Unland |date=2013-03-24 |newspaper=Edmonton Journal |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/business/thoughts-arising-from-make-something-edmonton |access-date=2024-01-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208035804/https://edmontonjournal.com/business/thoughts-arising-from-make-something-edmonton |archive-date=2018-02-08 |url-status=live}}

At its launch, LaBossiere transitioned to co-chair of Make Something Edmonton, alongside Rapid Fire Theatre artistic director Amy Shostak.{{cite news |title=Task force focuses on building Edmonton’s brand |first=Elise |last=Stolte |date=2013-03-04 |newspaper=Edmonton Journal |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/Task+force+focuses+building+Edmonton+brand/8048088/story.html |access-date=2013-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308104511/https://edmontonjournal.com/news/Task+force+focuses+building+Edmonton+brand/8048088/story.html |archive-date=2013-03-08 |url-status=dead}} The creative concept behind the initiative was articulated by local writer and entrepreneur Todd Babiak.{{cite web |title=Welcome to (Make Something) Edmonton |first=Todd |last=Babiak |author-link=Todd Babiak |date=2013-03-24 |website=magpietown |url=https://magpietown.wordpress.com/2013/03/24/welcome-to-make-something-edmonton/ |access-date=2013-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313231320/https://magpietown.wordpress.com/2013/03/24/welcome-to-make-something-edmonton/ |archive-date=2016-03-13 |url-status=dead}}

The central idea behind the initiative is that "Edmonton is an unusually good city to create something from nothing, to launch a new idea, to build, to get ‘er done, to make something."{{cite web |title=Make Something Edmonton |publisher=Make Something Edmonton |url=http://www.makesomethingedmonton.ca/about/ |access-date=2013-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325045555/http://www.makesomethingedmonton.ca/about/ |archive-date=2013-03-25 |url-status=dead}}

In 2014, the initiative was transferred to Economic Development Edmonton, with funding from the city.{{cite news |title=NextGen takes over management of Make Something Edmonton platform |first1=Laine |last1=Mitchell |first2=Alex |last2=Antoneshyn |date=2020-01-10 |orig-date=2020-01-04 |work=CTV News Edmonton |url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/nextgen-takes-over-management-of-make-something-edmonton-platform-1.4753339 |access-date=2024-01-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302064104/https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/nextgen-takes-over-management-of-make-something-edmonton-platform-1.4753339 |archive-date=2020-03-02 |url-status=live}} By January 2020, when Make Something Edmonton operated solely as an online platform, the City of Edmonton was announced that it would transfer the initiative to NextGen, an Administrative Committee in the city's Department of Citizen Services, and that the online platform would be archived and taken down pending new plans. In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta slowed all activity at NextGen, and Make Something Edmonton had not been added to NextGen's list of initiatives by 2021;{{cite web |title=NextGen Initiatives |date=2021-04-16 |website=edmontonnextgen.ca |url=https://edmontonnextgen.ca/initiatives/ |access-date=2024-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416021227/https://edmontonnextgen.ca/initiatives/ |archive-date=2021-04-16 |url-status=dead}} the NextGen committee was later cut from the city government.