I have seen the future

I drove by Starbucks a number of times yesterday, a beautiful sunny Friday, not too hot, not too cool.  And each time I drove by, including later in the evening, on my way home from the YMM ArtFest at Keyano College, there were animated groups of friends enjoying conversation and coffee on the patio.  I saw the future, and I liked the way it looked.

People desperately want and need places to meet, collide, converge, collaborate and a bunch of other great words to describe different forms of human interaction.

The opening of Starbucks at Save On Foods proves that if you build it, they will come.  Original Joe's, Wood Buffalo Brewing Co., and other gathering spots have reinforced the need, the cultural imperative, to create spaces and places where people can gather and interact.

I saw the future, and I liked the way it looked.

It was Friday night, and they weren't getting rough and tumble at some bush party or bar.  They were deeply engaged in great conversation enjoying quality coffee on a stunningly beautiful Fort McMurray evening, sitting around tables on the sidewalk.

This is our future, resplendent with plentiful coffee stops, restaurant and pub patios, food carts, public spaces and dynamic places.  Going for a walk in City Centre will be a viable activity, with plenty of options and public space attractions.  It will become a magnet for conversations, creative collisions, and vibrant interactions.

I have seen the future, and the future is good.