Active Neighbourhoods Canada Project: Bridging Community and Municipal Decision-Making to Impact the Built Environment ( breakout presentation )

Abstract

Active Neighbourhoods Canada consists of 12 community-based projects in Quebec, Alberta and Ontario. Funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Innovation Strategy, these projects use participatory planning activities to develop a community vision and plan for the future of local streets and public spaces. The ultimate goal is to work alongside community members to identify local strengths, weakness and opportunities for active transportation and community vibrancy. Through engaged events and mapping activities out in the community, residents describe their experiences and also access opportunities to learn about how the built form can influence how public spaces are used. Building on this information, these projects engage local municipal staff and professionals in urban planning, engineering, architecture and community development to begin developing potential interventions that can address the concerns and desires of local residents. By linking residents, experts in their community, with professionals, experts in the built form and municipal decision-making/standards, we bridge these two groups to raise community voices and develop options for the future of neighbourhoods that reflect residents’ desires. This presentation will discuss the Peterborough, Ontario based Active Neighbourhoods Project in the Stewart St. Neighbourhood as a case study. It will illustrate the progression of our three-phased project process, the engagement tools used and the strategic touch points created for bridging community voices with decision-makers.