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What is Community Engagement/Citizen Participation?
Members of KCLD believe that the best urban development takes place when citizens are meaningfully engaged in the process, from beginning to end. The Canadian-based Tamarack Institute offers this description of community engagement:
"Authentic community engagement ensures that the people who are closest to an issue, place, or opportunity, are involved in creating bold visions for their future. This includes learning together, building capacity, building relationships, and making decisions. Community engagement increases community cohesion and allows community members to have ownership over the outcomes that will ultimately impact them."
Community engagement has many other benefits. It positively impacts equity and inclusion, improves decision-making outcomes, and helps build stronger relationships, trust, and accountability. Why Community Engagement Matters.
There are a number of strategies used by municipal council and staff that are proposed as opportunities for engagement but that fall short. While providing information to people about what is happening is an important first step, too frequently, the emphasis is on a one-way flow of information from "experts". Consultation, such as neighbourhood meetings and surveys, can also be another valid step towards engagement, but there is no guarantee that the opinions and ideas solicited will be reflected in the outcome, often leaving citizens feeling deceived. Staff appointed citizen advisory committees may be another method of engagement; however, if staff and other power holders retain the right to judge the legitimacy or feasibility of the advice, citizens feel their time has been wasted. The Citizen's Handbook.
Citizens feel truly engaged when they:
know their thoughts and ideas are valued and used;
are part of discussions, plans, decision-making;
are engaged in the implementation of policies, projects and changes that affect them and their communities.
KCLD’s primary purpose is to encourage, facilitate and participate in community engagement on issues related to intensification and development. We do this in many ways.
Our Goals
Provide a networking forum for planning and development issues.
Identify, educate and inform members and neighbourhoods about planning issues.
Establish a central website for planning information, contacts, and other useful resources.
Share expertise in addressing planning issues.
Develop ways to collaborate with local government, planners, developers, and other stakeholders.
Act collectively on common concerns, when appropriate.
Promote neighbourhood engagement in development issues, when appropriate.
Our Goals in Action
Provide a networking forum for planning and development issues.
Monthly KCLD meetings at which residents from 8+ Kitchener neighbourhoods share information and discuss planning and development issues.
Sub-committees that work in more depth on issues such as advocating for more affordable housing, expanding green space, protecting and increasing tree canopy, and building for climate change.
Identify, educate and inform members and neighbourhoods about planning issues.
Book time on agendas for knowledgeable and experienced members to present and share information on relevant development topics. Examples include:
Provincial legislation and Issues - Bill 185, “Reducing Red Tape to Build New Homes”; Bill 162, “Get it Done Act”, Ontario’s Greenbelt Controversy
Regional legislation and Issues – Wilmot’s “Fight for Farmland”,
City of Kitchener legislation and issues – Inclusionary Zoning, Rental Replacement, Renoviction, Growing Together, etc.
Include regular items on development issues in local neighbourhood association newsletters.
Work with local media to inform the community about important development issues.
Establish a central website for planning information, contacts, and other useful resources.
This website is always in the process of being expanded in breadth and depth – please suggest how we can improve!
Share expertise in addressing planning issues.
Mentor new members to delegate to Council on specific issues.
Host speakers to share expert information on topics such as green development standards.
Develop ways to collaborate with local government, planners, developers, and other stakeholders.
Actively reach out to City staff in different planning departments to learn more about, support, and provide input on sustainable city initiatives such as building affordable housing, acquiring more land for parks, enhancing tree canopy, developing high performance development standards.
Communicate with developers to promote ways new developments can enhance neighbourhoods.
Encourage City staff to connect neighbourhoods with developers early in the development process.
Act collectively on common concerns, when appropriate.
Promote neighbourhood engagement in development issues, when appropriate.
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