My name is Guiscela Perez Arellano and I’m running for City Council in Ward Pihêsiwin ᐱᐦᐁᓯᐏᐣ (formerly ward 9) . I am originally from Mexico and I have lived in Germany and France. And Edmonton has been my chosen home for the last 10 years.

I am one of you, I am your neighbour, I am a worker and I care about our opportunities and our challenges. I have always been involved in my communities. I am very action-oriented, I speak four different languages, and I am bringing a global perspective into it.

As an immigrant, a person of colour, and a young woman, I don’t feel represented by our current city council.

For me, this election is about representation, resilience, and accountability.

I know many people in our community don’t feel that their voices are heard. I am here to change that. As your representative, I will invite and diversify the voices included in City Council, in the creation of new policies and making any decision. While also, taking action on local issues that are important to all of us.

My larger focus is on building a resilient City, where we successfully recover from the pandemic, and become more financially sustainable and self-sufficient. This includes looking at programs and to develop partnerships to set a foundation for our businesses to thrive locally and globally.

I believe as we move forward, we need to ensure that our City Council represents all Edmontonians with integrity and transparency, that our taxes are invested wisely, while balancing the different needs of each neighbourhood, building smart infrastructure, taking climate action, and addressing social equity.
In door knocking and listening to residents, I have identified the following 5 important priorities as my platform:

1. Building a more financially resilient City, with an economic environment where local businesses can thrive.
2. Ensuring the voices of all Edmontonians are heard and reflected in the City’s decision-making, policies, programs, and services.
3. Improved City services for Ward Pihêsiwin and beyond.
4. Ensuring that all new City infrastructure and replacement infrastructure, along with all new houses, infill, and renovations are climate-resilient and energy efficient.
5. Building easy and efficient transportation options that serve all of us, not just some of us.

 Why are you the best candidate for the ward?

Ward Pihêsiwin is young, the majority of our population is under 40 and female. We are professionals, tradespeople, multicultural, and speak many different languages.I believe that I am an absolute reflection of my community. As such, I can easily build bridges and make the connections needed for residents to feel included in our City, from having our voices heard, to seeing ourselves reflected in policy.

I will bring a young female and global perspective to City Council. A perspective it has never had before. I understand Council’s role versus Administration’s, along with what it takes to build a successful and inclusive city. If we want to see change, innovation, and inclusion in our city, it starts with who is sitting at the table making governance and budget decisions on our collective future.

I am a go-getter with a fresh perspective; like many of us in Ward Pihêsiwin. It’s time to change the make-up of City Council, to reflect us, our ideas, and our community. A vote for me will break the patterns of the “same old” and bring in an opportunity for a new more inclusive Edmonton.

The City of Edmonton has established a goal that residents should pay no more than 30% of their household income on housing. A recent survey found that 72% of newcomer respondents spend more than 30% of their income on housing. In fact, nearly half (44%) reported spending between 75% and 100% of their income on housing. This is simply not sustainable, for any of us.

Affordable housing is complicated because it’s not just about finding homes for Edmontonians. It’s a basic human right, it often comes down to issues of inclusion, economic disparity, and the provision of a minimum living wage.

The City does not directly build, operate or maintain affordable housing, but works closely with non-profit housing providers.
I am committed to working with the City’s partners to provide needed social inclusion services and to support the creation of affordable housing.

Being in an outer-ward, poverty, abuse, and addiction are often hidden behind closed doors, but it exists none-the less. I believe that it’s important that we help our friends and neighbours who are struggling, and that we put appropriate services in place to provide support.
The City of Edmonton is also now reaching a crises point with opioid use. The City and the province need to come together to create, fund, and implement a common strategy, including the operation of supervised essential services and harm reduction sites. The current situation is devastating and time is of the essence.

Currently, not everyone in our Ward or the City feels included or reflected in our local municipal government. Many of us also do not feel safe in our City. This is often because of our race, economic standing, culture, sexual orientation, religion, and even age.

I believe inclusion starts at the highest levels starting with our government. Women and especially people of colour are not represented in our government. We have had only 31 women city councillors and none women of colour. When we make history in this election by electing the first woman of colour.

It will be a clear message in our community that we are ready for inclusion and change.

It’s not just about celebrating diversity, it’s about inclusion. It nos just about the acceptance of others – which is great. It’s about including everyone in City decision-making, policy creation, and service delivery.
Inclusion impacts the daily lives of many residents in Ward Pihêsiwin and Edmontonians. It shows up in many ways and forms, from feeling safe while out walking in our communities, to engaging with the City, to finding gainful employment, to finding healthy and affordable housing.
Inclusion needs to be addressed – and there is much work to do!

I will work to ensure the voices of all Edmontonians are heard and reflected in the City’s decision-making, policies, programs, and services.

“Knowledge has to be improved, challenged, and increased constantly, or it vanishes.”

Twitter: @guiscelayeg

Instagram: @guiscelayeg