Book review by Mark Seasons of No Straight Lines: Local Leadership and the Path from Government to Governance in Small Cities, Terry Kading editor

Seasons, Mark

English

Canadian Journal of Urban Research

Canadian Journal of Urban Research / Revue canadienne de recherche urbaineCJUR summer 28:1 201992Canadian Journal of Urban Research, Summer 2019, Volume 28, Issue 1, pages 92-93.Copyright © 2019 by the Institute of Urban Studies.All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.ISSN: 2371-0292 BOOK REVIEWTerry Kading (ed).No Straight Lines: Local Leadership and the Path from Government to Governance in Small Cities Calgary: University of Calgary Press, 2018. ISBN: 978-1-55238-944-7Much of the literature on the Canadian urban experience focuses on the familiar: the nation’s large metropolitan centres. Th is book focuses on the under-studied, yet really important, small city experience. Millions of Canadians live in smaller urban centres; there are over 80 cities with populations between 50-500,000 scattered across the country. Small cities must deal with problems that are similar to those experienced in large city-regions: homelessness, unemployment, dealing with growth pressures (or place decline) and the search for place—the need to belong somewhere, to have the opportunity to thrive and to live a life with purpose. Like our larger cities, small cities seek improved quality of life as a way to enhance health and well-being and, it must be said, as an increasingly important factor in local economic development. However, the objective presented here is not just quality of life, but equality of quality of life, meaning the opportunity for a community’s residents—all of them—to achieve a healthy and fulfi lling life in a just, equitable society. Th is is an ambitious objective. Th ese are complex and inter-connected challenges that require signifi cant resources, capital (social and fi nancial), and expertise—all of which can be in short supply in small cities, especially in local governments that are resource constrained, or restricted by narrow mandates—and in some cases, unimaginative or unresponsive leadership. In response to these challenges, the contributors to this book advocate greater self-reliance and community empowerment achieved through place- or community-based collaboration, eff ective leadership, and an emphasis on governance instead of government. Th e book uses the small city of Kamloops, BC as a case study to explore whether, and how, social capital can be built and equality of quality of life achieved through this emphasis on collaboration and leadership. Each of the six chapters addresses a high-profi le issue of concern to the community; collaboration is presented as a cross-cutting strategy for generating enhanced understanding, mutual learning, and action that meets specifi c needs. Contributors include faculty and researchers affi  liated with Th ompson Rivers University (which is based in Kamloops), and community-based social entrepreneurs. Th e authors address a specifi c theme in each chapter—e.g. poverty, homelessness, access to healthy food, adult learning, and community-university research collaborations. In each case, we see how complex, inter-connected social and economic issues are successfully addressed through partnerships and collaboration. Th e book provides a frank assessment of what worked well (or otherwise) as people and institutions who, previously, CJUR summer 28:1 2019 93Book Reviewoften had little to do with each other learned to respect, admire and work together to common ends. Th e process of community-based decision-making and action in Kamloops is not presented as simple or straightforward; rather, it is presented as organic and dynamic, and it is always hard work. In summary, this book provides really interesting and valuable insights into the realities of life in small cities—the challenges they face and the need for community-based solutions. Th e Kamloops, BC experience will be familiar to many small cities in Canada that are struggling with similar issues. However, the emphasis on equality of quality of life, the emphasis on community-based leadership, and on collaboration of all kinds could be novel for many communities. Th e title—“No Straight Lines”—refl ects the complex and diffi  cult nature of these challenges, and the need to think creatively, inclusively and broadly about solutions. Th is is a reminder—and acknowledgement—that there is usually no straight line between issues and solutions. It is a timely message for a rather demanding period in which we fi nd ourselves.Mark SeasonsSchool of PlanningUniversity of Waterloo

No Straight Lines: Local Leadership and the Path from Government to Governance in Small Cities

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No Straight Lines: Local Leadership and the Path from Government to Governance in Small Cities

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Canadian Journal of Urban Research