There’s a new frontier in this online world of fundraising and it’s within our cities. With shrinking budgets and crumbling infrastructure, some say it’s time to hit the internet to find money to pay for bridges, parks even street lighting. Others worry, that crowdfunding civic projects could let governments off the hook, leaving some poorer neighbhorhoods behind.
Councillor for Kanata North, Marianne Wilkinson
When the Luchtsingel bridge opened in Rotterdam last summer, some of the cheering was for the people who paid to get it built — the nearby residents. A chunk of the money for the wooden pedestrian bridge came from crowdfunding, contributions from locals. Construction continues; the slogan is: “The more you donate, the longer the bridge.”
Many people are turning to crowdfunding to get their books published, their inventions manufactured, even their cancers treated. Marianne Wilkinson is the ward 4 councillor for Kanata North in Ottawa. She spearheaded a drive to crowdfund a recreational facility for her community. She says its a way for local residents to pay for projects..
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