'I ❤️ SG' Conversation Series Topic #16- Good Governance
- Erin Stevenson
- Sep 8
- 3 min read
Spruce Grove Councillor Erin Stevenson is proud to launch her campaign for a third term under the banner “I ❤️ SG”—a positive, community-focused message reflecting her deep commitment to the people, places, and possibilities that make Spruce Grove special.
Strengthening Governance in Spruce Grove
Good governance is the foundation of a strong and trusted city. It shapes how decisions are made, how residents are represented, and how a municipality plans for the future. As part of her “I 💙 SG” campaign for a third term, Councillor Erin Stevenson is highlighting Spruce Grove’s progress in governance, transparency, and fiscal responsibility—while pointing to new opportunities to connect with residents.
Watch the video:
LOVE: Building Stronger Foundations
Over the past term, Spruce Grove has taken significant steps to strengthen its governance framework. In 2024, Council developed a governance and decision-making process to guide which commemorative days and events the City will recognize, ensuring celebrations reflect the diversity of the community. Council also introduced a formal process for routine review of bylaws and policies, including a mandatory review period clause. This ensures policies remain relevant and responsive to the city’s evolving needs.
On the operational side, the City developed a Customer Experience Strategy and Administrative Policy, now being implemented to improve service delivery and resident satisfaction.
Financial stewardship has been another area of progress. Council advanced asset management and lifecycle planning, alongside a fiscal stewardship framework to guide long-term budgets. New policies, such as the Investment Policy and the Reserves and Accumulated Surplus Policy, provide clarity and accountability around how public funds are managed.
Governance also extends to advocacy. By engaging with an external partner with expertise in advocacy best practices, the City has strengthened its advocacy pathways, systems, and processes to better represent residents’ interests to other levels of government.
Finally, Council approved updates to the Municipal Development Plan, a 20–30 year roadmap for growth that reflects the community’s core values and aspirations.
“These steps may not always be visible day-to-day, but they build the framework that keeps our city strong, transparent, and future-focused,” Stevenson says.
IMPROVE: Clarifying Roles and Responsibilities
Stevenson acknowledges that governance can sometimes feel complicated. For residents, the distinction between Council’s role and Administration’s role isn’t always clear.
“Councillors govern, while Administration manages operations,” she explains. “But residents often approach us about operational issues where Council doesn’t have jurisdiction—for example, police matters, where it would be legally inappropriate for us to intervene.”
Stevenson believes the City can do more to improve communications about what Council can and cannot do, and why. “There’s good reason for these boundaries—they protect accountability and ensure fairness. But if residents don’t understand them, that can lead to frustration. We need to do better at clarifying our role.”
NEXT: New Ways to Connect
Looking ahead, Stevenson wants to explore new ways of engaging residents and demystifying governance. One idea is launching a podcast.
“Some episodes could highlight Council updates, others could explain how property taxes or assessments work, or how we collaborate with RCMP and emergency services,” she says. “We could even feature interviews with community leaders and residents to share ideas and stories.”
While social media remains a useful tool, Stevenson believes a podcast or similar platform could provide more context, clarity, and education about how municipal government works.
“Good governance is about more than making decisions—it’s about helping residents understand the why behind those decisions. If we can connect in new ways, we can build even more trust and transparency.”
Share your thoughts with Erin and connect with her on social media and don't forget to use the hashtag #IHeartSG. Show Erin support in her re-election campaign by requesting a lawn sign (request form is at the bottom of every webpage).
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