Career Decisions and Inspiring Developments

A couple of recent events have me thinking again about remaining in London rather than looking for work back in Toronto. To be a little more accurate, I was verbally offered a job by a friend and now that he's won the by-election in Toronto Center there's a stronger chance of that job becoming a reality. However, 6 weeks after speaking with this person, I'm not sure going back to Toronto is the right choice for me.

I've also applied for a job at a small web development firm who do some great work both for their customers as well as the community partners they assist as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility plan. And there are other self-generated possibilities to find happiness, challenge and reward as well.

I have a world of debt right now. Its a fairly daunting thing. London makes sense in this regard because, a) living is cheaper here and b) lots of free meals with the folks c) incomes aren't that much higher in Toronto relative to the cost of living and d) I really can't afford the amenities that Toronto offers anyway. I'd rather drive 2 hours to the rare concert I can't afford to go to if I live in Toronto.

That said, its all kind of abstract and academic if I can't find work or figure out how to earn a living in London. There are simply more jobs in Toronto for my background in politics and then government-focused business development. But I've also come to the conclusion that while I love politics, I don't enjoy Party politics and may indeed lack the party loyalty (blind allegiance) to work in that world.

So what to do?

The events I referred to above were TVO's Agenda Camp (which I didn't actually attend but watched on Twitter and online) and Wednesday night's Geek Dinner. I love my hometown for a variety of reasons but I make no bones about my frustrations with London Ontario. This is a white bread community.

But I wonder what I can do to try and change London. London is not poised well for the challenges presented by a post-Carbon economy. From its sprawling subdivisions to a lack of Creative Economy jobs and the sort of Big Box suburban commercial development that makes an Urbanist want to commit suicide, this City is in trouble the minute we hit the back end of Peak Oil.

So it is with those things in mind that I ask: How can I help? How do we get Londoners more engaged in their City? Londoners are active in community organizations but few of these present the opportunity to bring together people of diverse interests and lifestyles - its mostly people who sing from the same hymn book.

London is surely not alone in being a suburban City. How can we learn to grow inwardly and exploit the resources and infrastructure we already have? How do we unite people and interests and build the capacity of our City - socially, economically, culturally?

I take much of my inspiration from authors/economists like Jane Jacobs and Richard Florida. Community is more than a collection of homes and employment opportunities. It is diversity and tolerance and people with different ideas clashing and communicating to grow.

I hope you'll reach out. If there are community leaders I should speak to or you know, let me know. I want/need to become more active. Ideally, this leads to some kind of paying work too!