I wish the process was more public and more of a celebration.  After all, it is our greatest achievement.  It is a wonderfully human process.  Counting ballots, tabulating counts, collating results.  The American in me wants to automate it.  Make it efficient.  I have to check my technologist instincts at the door.  Our aim is not efficiency.  It is engagement.  Our process should involve as many humans as it can.  When you just press a button, your thinking might be "why are they not doing what I told them?" When you are part of the weighing and balancing of thousands of opinions, you realize that your voice was heard, but it is not the only voice.  

In witnessing the process unfold, you get to see a full cross section of the society that you are part of.  We literally got to meet our neighbors.  It just made me think that, in everyday life we get pulled into isolated echo chambers in the attention economy.  This gave an opportunity to shake hands and talk to people face to face, with a different set of opinions and life stories.  How lucky am I.  

I was delighted to see graduates that I have taught standing for office.  A better balance of instincts between the different demographics will test our decision making.  

I want to congratulate the councillors who will be representing the ward.  Make good use of the trust placed in you.  You are making decisions on our behalf and in our name. Choose well.