What Local Guides program means to me: placemaking, supporting the local businesses, and leaving a mark
The Google local guide program has been a significant propelling factor behind many of my initiatives during the last 3 years. Before writing this application, I dug out many old photos, revisited my reviews and activities and realized how I have made an impact and how my fondest memories are associated with being a guide in the community.
My Geography major in university has taught me the idea of”placemaking” where community connections are made and strengthened around places - especially public places. I have since decided to be a part of the placemaking process by hosting meetup events in a local cultural exchange group with more than 500 active participants from more than 10 countries! How is this connected to the local guide program? Well, the local guide program has allowed me to explore new places which are community assets that can inspire connections and offer new experiences. I then host events there and share my personal experience in the form of reviews and photos on the map platform to strength the profile of those places.
From upper corner: Central library rooftop bookclub event, UBC library game and puzzle event, Burnaby library language exchange event
Jim Deva plaza summer car free day event
I have recently put together 2 lists on Google map that includes the highlights of some of the places where my events have been held. One of them is the “Check out” Vancouver’s Bookish World! list where I put together a list of libraries and book exchange places with introduction to what these places offer and some personal anecdotes. The second list is called Aminating public spaces where I included 6 recently redesigned alleys and parks that sparks community participation. These places can be sometimes overlooked due to their non-commercial nature, but they are worth checking out and I would like to get the message out through the Google map platform as a local guide. The local guide program enables me to maximize my community experience and introduces places to a larger and more diverse crowd.
A fun fact: when researching library spaces where I can host events, I saw the Canada Regional Library on Google map and decided to check it out. Turns out the library had closed more than 5 years ago and was never removed from the map! I submitted the removal edit right away and it was approved the same day. I felt extremely delightful and meaningful for the contribution as I improved the accuracy of the map and redirected people’s attention to the places that are worth checking out!
Sometimes I also host activities that take place in local small businesses. Which brings me to the second thing the local guide program means to me: supporting local business in the community. A lot of my reviews are for small businesses with less than 100 reviews on google map, and in some cases, less than 20. When me and my group go to a shop and we end up enjoying the food or goods there, I leave a supportive review that introduces the main “selling points” of the shop and upload pictures to help engage the map searchers. Few of the most helpful ones are my Trish Juice photos which got 1000+ views in 2 weeks, my Canadian Berry Winery review that shows vivid photos and personal experience, and the Gotcha bubble tea shop review which I updated a few times to include their rebranding efforts.
Google sometimes sends an email telling me that my reviews are making a difference with hundreds and thousands of views and appreciative replies from business owners. Being a local guide has enabled me to support local business in a way that I haven’t imagined before and has become my “ritual” - when I like a new or small business in the neighbourhood, I open the Google map app on my phone and think about some good words to share.
Lastly, the local guide program has a significant impact on me personally. Since I was involved in this program, I started to reflect on how I review things and the social responsibility of being a “guide”. I would think twice about leaving bad reviews to vent my emotions based on one isolated incident. I feel more inquisitive to explore the features and tips that I can introduce people to. I feel inspired and want to learn more about what other guides do to make a difference.
Most recently, I shared my sentiments in a review after watching a late night cult classic film in an local indie theatre - Rio Theatre. In the film, it talks about that as people, we are defined by memories but memories are intangible and so easy to lose. The program gives me a chance to look back on my reviews and photos one day to know that my experience is permanently stored and shared in an engaging and impactful way.