Ximena González's avatar

Ximena González

@ximenaka.bsky.social

434 followers 224 following 341 posts


Calgary journalist. Recovering architect.

ximena-gonzalez.com

Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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3D construction has been slow to take off in Canada. However, it can offer significant advantages when it comes to durability and long-term affordability. Kakatoosoyiists, in the Siksika Nation reserve in Southern Alberta, is an example of the potential of this technology. Read more in my latest 👇

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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Thanks for reading!

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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Looking forward to menopause!

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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New from me! 👇

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Reposted by Ximena González

The Tyee's avatar The Tyee @thetyee.ca
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The number of Calgarians who trust the city has seen a 12% drop since 2021.

Amid polarization and a drinking water crisis, how to get it back, reports @ximenaka.bsky.social.

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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I increasingly feel like we’re being manipulated into behaving like a*holes.

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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I barely have any followers on Threads. Yet i made a silly question (you know me!) that got widely misinterpreted and ONE MILLION views. That is one insane, not to say concerning, algorithm. Yet people are accusing me of engagement farming, rather than the algorithm itself. Like, wtf?

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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Why would one want to wish a friend a happy birthday anyway?

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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Don’t let architects write. Please.

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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Ohh! I totally lost track of time and thought it had already happened, haha. Thx

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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Where did you see that?!

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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What do you think would happen if we stopped expecting the worst from those we disagree with?

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Reposted by Ximena González

Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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Sometimes i feel like people use weeds as an excuse to emphasize the moral rot they perceive in their neighbours.

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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Calgary folks! I’m looking to interview people whose trust in the city has declined over the past few years. This can be on the record or on background, the only condition is that you should have had a great deal of trust at one point, but no longer do. My DMs are open!

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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New from me! Edmonton is a top choice for Canadians looking for a lower cost of living, but some are worried about the city's ability to maintain its affordability advantage.

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Reposted by Ximena González

The Globe and Mail's avatar The Globe and Mail @theglobeandmail.com
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Making homeowners into home builders: A grassroots approach to redevelopment educates novice builders on how to avoid pitfalls

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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Haha! Still, my question was more related to how you’d feel about the idea of having people watch how you live, implying that there’s significant differences based on clichés.

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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What if it was your lifted-truck driving, cowboy har wearing, beef eating habits? Obviously, visitors would be somewhat disappointed, but if Calgarians knew that’s what expected of them, maybe they’d play the part? Like during Stampede.

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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I’m sure this sounds like a strange question, but how would you feel if the reason tourists visit Calgary were to see how Calgarians live?

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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A very simple example happened to me a while back, when a local publication asked me to write a review of a collection of essays that had few redeeming qualities. I warned my editor that it wouldn’t be a positive review, and they ended up asking me to review a different book.

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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Sometimes i feel like Calgary’s biggest problem is a lack of space for well-articulated criticism, be it in the context of architecture and urbanism, or anywhere. Maybe because, Calgary is still a small town where everyone knows each other. So unless you’ve got a sworn enemy, criticism is avoided.

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Cam Walker's avatar Cam Walker @walks30.bsky.social
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Alberta citizens of BSky. I have an invitation to meet with Searle Turton, “Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta”, and “Alberta Minister of Children and Family Services.” Anyone have questions for him? I need to power through the last couple years of news for the “UCP Greatest Hits.”

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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For nearly a century, CKUA has played an important role in weaving Alberta’s cultural fabric. Rising costs and scarce government support, however, are jeopardizing the station’s future.

Read more in my latest for @thetyee.ca 👇

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Reposted by Ximena González

The Tyee's avatar The Tyee @thetyee.ca
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“We are the voice of music, arts and culture in Alberta.”

The Edmonton radio station CKUA enjoys scads of public support but faces a financial “perfect storm.”

@ximenaka.bsky.social reports. 📻

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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Edmonton folks! Are you currently selling your home or buying one? Hit me up! It’s for a story idea i’m exploring.

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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New from me! In the midst of a housing affordability crisis, Calgary lost 1,500 non-market rentals—why?

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Reposted by Ximena González

Native Calgarian 's avatar Native Calgarian @nativecalgarian.bsky.social
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UCALGARY LAUNCHES ENCAMPMENT GRASSROOTS: All out to UCalgary! The students need numbers! LOGISTICS: Tents, Sleeping Bags, Hand Warmers -transfer to: info@canadians4palestine.com

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Reposted by Ximena González

The Tyee's avatar The Tyee @thetyee.ca
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Calgary has lost 1,500 non-market rentals since 2021, laying bare Canada’s affordable housing problems. And its solutions. @ximenaka.bsky.social reports. 🏡

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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New from me! Finding a rental in Canmore is not an easy feat. Despite a growing demand, developers have been slow to building new purpose-built rentals—why?

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Reposted by Ximena González

The Tyee's avatar The Tyee @thetyee.ca
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No matter what Canadian city you live in, you’ll know the dismal feeling of watching rents and home prices climb higher and higher. Victoria journalist Gregor Craigie’s new book dives into the depths of the crisis, and offers ways to fix it.

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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Can we really separate the use from the user? The reason i ask is that back when i used to design stuff, users were always top of mind.

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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One thing i find very interesting is that not once has a yimby asked why me, a racialized, low income woman, doesn’t buy the idea of trickle down housing. Instead, they treat me like i’m ignorant. Seemingly, they want to help people like me, but without our input.

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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That’s not what the engagement consultant i interviewed said. But time will tell what’s best, i guess.

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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In the face of a controversial rezoning proposal, Calgary decided an informational approach was the best way to engage citizens. But a simplified process could backfire, and drive polarization and distrust—even if it seems to be in the public interest.

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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A democratic process should provide clear, accurate and timely information to all parties involved—whether they belong to status quo or not. As a low income renter myself, i fear that when polarization and distrust increase, the chances my housing needs will ever be met decrease. I hope i’m wrong.

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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Let’s undermine democracy so more housing can trickle down to lower income renters at some point in time certainly sounds like a great plan.

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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Is it worth the price, though?

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The Tyee's avatar The Tyee @thetyee.ca
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As many Canadian cities face challenges, some city halls are slow to involve citizens in serious discussions about what actions to take.

That’s not only bad for democracy. That can backfire, writes @ximenaka.bsky.social. 🏘

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Reposted by Ximena González

Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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Thus why i never take time off 😅

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Ximena González's avatar Ximena González @ximenaka.bsky.social
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When i hear calls to depoliticize housing i usually roll my eyes because housing *is* a political issue. The real problem with the current housing discourse is dogmatism, not politics.

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