Key Finding 2 - Inclusivity

Research Question:

The findings set out in this report show early indications that the Participatory City approach is engaging a wide range of residents in each neighbourhood and building networks that bring together individuals and communities that have not been connected previously.

Aimee Gasparetto, Every One Every Day Kjipuktuk-Halifax

Aimee Gasparetto, Every One Every Day Kjipuktuk-Halifax

The prototypes proved that the approach can be a stepping stone for building broader bridging networks. Each initiative demonstrates how this approach engages residents in a way that is unique and valuable, simply because it has the ability to bring people together across barriers and cultural divides. This can be in contrast to other programs that exist in the same community.

In Halifax’s North End, the prototype brought together urban Indigenous, non-Indigenous, African Nova Scotians, and others together in community settings. In Regent Park Toronto, this approach helped to bridge an historic gap between community members in both subsidized and market-rate housing. The Solon team engaged a completely new community of Tolhurst/St-Benoît in Montreal, connecting with local partners, and forming bridges between long-time residents and newcomers. The on-the-ground, comprehensive and inclusive nature of this approach welcomes community members regardless of age, class, and race. Each city has built from their knowledge of the community to create virtual and physical spaces that are welcoming to everyone.

Significantly, all three cities cited a lack of third places in their neighbourhoods that truly welcome all community members to connect and be together.

Every One Every Day Kjipuktuk-Halifax Evaluation Report

Every One Every Day Toronto - Our Neighbourhood Report

Notre voisinage Report, Montreal

The development and use of a beautiful, strong, cohesive brand and communications goes a long way in establishing initial connections with the community. It helps to present stability and longevity, especially in the absence of street-facing storefront operations. While establishing newspapers was a significant endeavor requiring a substantial investment of resources, it was the most helpful invitational element of the platform in both Halifax and Toronto. Critically, the papers served as a highly engaging tool that grounded the work, organizations and residents. Building off of digital communication, a physical on-the-ground resource such as newspapers helped build inclusivity and equity for those with less access to technology.

In Montreal, where the city was harder hit by rolling lockdowns during the outreach phase, the initiative faced challenges with delivery. Team members could not go door to door, were not allowed to enter social housing apartment buildings to distribute papers, and central community spaces were not open to the public. Add to this was the fact that there was a fear of sharing physical objects. The Montreal team’s use of WhatsApp made it possible to communicate more fluidly, with the ability to send photos, videos, and small messages which allowed more groups to be united. The creation of Whatsapp groups was an effective strategy for reaching participants, and helped animate a friendly exchange space in the context of remote activities.

Toronto faced similar challenges as Montreal with strict lockdown measures. Existing storefront and community hub spaces where Centre for Social Innovation normally operates were closed, and most of the programming was done virtually or in some instances, outdoors.

In Halifax, where delivery was possible and spaces such as the North End Library were open and operational, the team had no trouble getting papers into people’s hands. Most participants cited the newspaper as the primary way they learned about the workshops, followed closely by word of mouth and Facebook.

It is worth noting that having a strong brand and communications strategy cohesive across platforms created an equitable approach to communications. Both digital and physical communications strategies reached people with and without access to technology and internet, and ensured that less people missed the opportunity to participate. The newspaper proved to be an effective and unique outreach method in a world where outreach and communications have moved almost solely to online formats.

Given that the pandemic struck just as Participatory Canada kicked off, each local initiative pivoted to do as much as possible online. Clearly, not everyone has access to the internet, or to multiple computers that would allow family members to participate while others are using it for work or school. While online communications is an important aspect of reaching people, it cannot be the only way that community members are engaged.

Participant, Every One Every Day Kjipuktuk-Halifax

Every One Every Day Toronto - Our Neighbourhood Report

Inclusivity Is Strengthened By Local Knowledge Of Context

Local knowledge and relationships proved essential for centering inclusivity and radical inclusion as an active driving force in the ongoing development and delivery of each initiative. The teams knew from lived experience who is typically excluded from social programs, and how to work to invite those community members. Team members found resources to help understand radical inclusion from their own lives, and elsewhere. One helpful definition came from the Burning Man festival in the United States, which welcomes anyone. There are no prerequisites for participation in the community. prototypes demonstrated that inclusivity is inherently cultural.

This is no simple way of establishing what radical inclusion should look like. The conditions for inclusivity are tailor-made in each place. While there are ideas and approaches to learn from, inclusivity will come from building and creating these conditions with community members themselves.

Every One Every Day Kjipuktuk-Halifax Evaluation Report

Émilie Thuillier, Mayor of Ahuntsic-Cartierville