With the upcoming civic election and the city’s intent on changing the way residents’ associations operate, I felt it was time to write something about social engagement, or what is sometimes called community engagement.
Overall, community engagement is a method of implementing change to one’s community. It’s an honest activity at relationship building with those in the community and other stakeholders (e.g. other residents’ associations and local government). Further, effective communication is also fundamental to promoting better community relations and should be mainstreamed throughout the council’s communications.
We could think of community engagement as an ongoing three step process:
Step 1: To Inform
Goal: To provide the community with appropriate information
Step 2: To Consult
Goal: To capture community input on strategic plans, directions, issues, priorities and projects
Step 3: To Integrate
Goal: To work on an ongoing basis with the community to ensure that community ideas, concerns and aspirations are listened to and understood at the various levels of local government.
Benefits of Community Engagement
More open and accountable communications at all levels
- Helps the City plan services better to meet community needs and aspirations
- Helps the City prioritize services and make better use of resources
- It allows a broader range of views to be expressed and more information to be collected before making decisions
And last but not least!
- It offers opportunities for residents to contribute to and influence outcomes which directly affect their lives in the community
Below is a list of issues that have resulted in varying degrees of action on the part of residents in Connaught Heights over the last 12 months. People in our community have stepped up and decided to make a difference for their families and those around them.
- Shooting on Dublin
- 22nd Street Skytrain Station (Illegal activity – Drugs)
- 22nd Street Skytrain Station (Illegal activities (Nuisance Activities) - Littering, car idling, blocking driveways, urination, noise)
- Removal of building forms at 2125 7th Avenue
- Telus HD Boxes
- Traffic issues on 20th Street Corridor – Rat Running, blocking intersections, children/pedestrian crossing safety
- Utilizing the school for community/neighbourhood based activities
In many of the examples above, it is clear that a greater degree of success is achieved by following a consistent process that utilizes all of the steps listed above (Inform, Consult, Integrate). Recent discussions at City Hall have suggested that a clearer process will be required by all residents’ associations. We should prepare to make that transition by starting a discussion on the topic and envisioning how each of us can make a difference.
