Information Brief
Inclusion/Civic Engagement
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Words from Co-Chairs
As co-chairs of this 3rd Community Conversation Forum, we are pleased to once again bring
together leaders across all sectors to engage in a dialogue around the theme “Healthy
Communities”.
As you will hear throughout the Forum, a lot of progress has been made since we started
our Community Conversation in 2012. Several community initiatives have helped move the
bar on Food Security, Inclusion/Civic Engagement and Integrated Community Planning but
the statistics tell us that there is still a lot of work to do as a community.
According to the HungerCount 2014 Survey, in March 2014, approximately 841,000 people
received food from a food bank in Canada. The Ottawa Food Bank provides emergency
food to 48,000 people a month. It is clear that Food Security remains a challenge for many
Canadians, including Ottawans.
In October, our residents had the opportunity to choose their municipal leaders for the next
4 years. Only 40% of eligible voters actually voted. Therefore, we know that there’s room for
improvement when it comes to civic engagement in our community.
In addition, we also know that Ottawa is a community that works well together to respond to
community needs, to share information and resources. This Forum supports these 3
important topics: Food Security, Inclusion/Civic Engagement and Integrated Community
Planning.
We invite you to read the information summary on the discussion topic you have registered
for, and learn of some great initiatives that are in the community so that you can share your
ideas at the Forum on Thursday, April 16, 2015, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM at HALL A,
NEPEAN SPORTSPLEX.
We look forward to your participation at this year’s Forum.
Sincerely,
Aaron Burry
Co-Chair of Forum
Hindia Mohamoud
Co-Chair of Forum
General Manager
Community & Social Services Dept
City of Ottawa
Director
Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership
(OLIP)
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Table of Contents
Information Brief .............................................................................................................. 1
Words from Co-Chairs ................................................................................................. 3
Table of Contents ........................................................................................................ 5
Acknowledgments........................................................................................................ 6
Goal and Objectives .................................................................................................... 7
Terms and Definitions .................................................................................................. 7
1.
Food Security .................................................................................................. 7
2.
Social Inclusion ............................................................................................... 7
3.
Civic Engagement ........................................................................................... 7
4.
Integrated Community Planning ...................................................................... 7
Reference Sheet for the Inclusion/Civic Engagement Discussion Table ..................... 8
1.
Equity and Inclusion Lens ............................................................................... 8
2.
Examples of Inclusion/Civic Engagement Initiatives in Ottawa ....................... 8
3.
Municipal and Provincial Elections Voter Turnout Statistics............................ 8
Discussion Questions .................................................................................................. 9
Appendix 1: Initiatives Highlighted ............................................................................. 10
Notes Page ................................................................................................................ 12
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Acknowledgments
A Community Conversation Reference Group comprised of community leaders and City
staff contributed their time and expertise to plan the 2015 Community Conversation
Forum. The Reference Group includes:
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Caroline Andrew, The University of Ottawa
Ann Archer, Ottawa Public Library, City of Ottawa
Sherry Beadle, Economic Development & Innovation Department, City of Ottawa
Mike Bulthuis, Alliance to End Homelessness
Aaron Burry, Community and Social Services Department, City of Ottawa
(Forum Co-Chair)
Gillian Connelly, Ottawa Public Health, City of Ottawa
Wendy Dehler, Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition
Jephtée Elysée, Community and Social Services Department, City of Ottawa
(Project Lead)
Elizabeth Farrell, Community and Social Services Department, City of Ottawa
Brian Gilligan, Ottawa Community Housing
Colleen Hendrick, Community and Social Services Department, City of Ottawa
(Reference Group Chair)
Christine Lauzon-Foley, United Way
Christine Leadman, Bank Street BIA
Whitney Loughrey, Ottawa Community Support Coalition
Barb MacKinnon, Growing Up Great Council of Partners and Children’s Aid
Society
Cal Martell, The Council on Aging of Ottawa
Leslie McDiarmid, South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre
Hindia Mohamoud, Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership (Forum Co-Chair)
Kim Pilkington, Community and Social Services Department, City of Ottawa
Tim Simboli, Canadian Mental Health Association
Joely Smith, Community and Social Services Department, City of Ottawa
Lee Ann Snedden, Planning & Growth Management, City of Ottawa
David Snoddy, Ottawa Police Service, City of Ottawa
Julie Wiley, Community and Social Services Department, City of Ottawa
The 2015 Community Conversation Forum Keynote Speaker: Peggy Taillon, President
and CEO of the Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD).
The Community Conversation Forum 2015 Information Brief has been developed by the
City of Ottawa’s Community and Social Services Department.
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Goal and Objectives
The goal of the annual Community Conversation Forum is to engage leaders across our
social services and community sectors in a dialogue to build upon our assets and
collective capacity and to identify concrete actions to enhance collaboration, address
emerging needs and improve service delivery.
The 2015 Forum will engage participants in a conversation on the following three topics:
ü Food Security
ü Inclusion/Civic Engagement
ü Integrated Community Planning
Terms and Definitions
The following terms are defined for the discussion groups:
1. Food Security
The World Food Summit of 1996 defined food security as existing “when all people at all
times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active
life”. The concept of food security is defined as including both physical and economic
access to food that meets people's dietary needs as well as their food preferences.1
2. Social Inclusion
Acknowledging and valuing people’s differences in all spheres of life, so as to enrich
social planning, decision-making and quality of life for everyone. In an inclusive city, we
all have a sense of belonging, acceptance and recognition as valued and contributing
members of society. A key pathway to achieving social inclusion therefore is
understanding and removing the systemic barriers that prevent some groups or
communities of people from fully participating in social, economic and political life.2
3. Civic Engagement
Civic engagement means working to make a difference in the civic life of our
communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and
motivation to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community,
through both political and non-political processes.3
4. Integrated Community Planning
An Integrated Community Plan is when community partners have a shared purpose and
vision. They work together to achieve shared priorities or goals. Outcomes are
measured and reported on jointly.
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World Health Organization – Food Security Definition
Adapted from the Equity and Inclusion Lens – A User’s Guide - The City of Ottawa
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Excerpts from Civic Responsibility and Higher Education, edited by Thomas Ehrlich, published by Oryx Press, 2000.
- Preface, page vi
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Reference Sheet for the Inclusion/Civic Engagement
Discussion Table
1. Equity and Inclusion Lens
The groups at risk of exclusion that are identified in the City of Ottawa’s Equity and
Inclusion Lens are:
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Aboriginal peoples
Francophones
LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual,
transgender, queer)
Immigrants
Older Adults
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People living in poverty
People living with disabilities
Racialized People
Rural residents
Women
Youth
2. Examples of Inclusion/Civic Engagement Initiatives in Ottawa
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Making Votes Count Where You
Live
Youth Futures
Equity and Inclusion Lens
DiverseCity onBoard Program
(DoB)
Traffic Stop Race Data Collection
Project
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Mobilizing Ottawans to Shape our
Urban Future
The Neighbourhood Connection
Office Toolkit
Community Development
Framework (CDF) Learning
Forum
Note: Please refer to page 10 of this document (Appendix 1) for a description of these
initiatives and contact information.
3. Municipal and Provincial Elections Voter Turnout Statistics
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2000-2014 Municipal Election Voter
Turnout Statistics4
Year
Voter
Change
Turnout
2000
47%
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2003
33%
↓
1999-2014 Provincial Election Voter
Turnout Statistics5
Year
Voter
Change
Turnout
1999
58%
─
2003
57%
↓
2006
54%
2007
52%
2010
44%
2011
48%
2014
40%
2014
52%
↑
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↑
City of Ottawa and Ottawa Citizen
CBC News
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Discussion Questions
1. Over the past few years, several initiatives have been introduced by organizations
and the City to make Ottawa a more inclusive city. Do you think Ottawa is more
inclusive today? Have you noticed a difference in your community?
2. What are some examples of inclusion success stories across the city? What are
some areas where further improvement is necessary?
3. Last year, the provincial and municipal elections were held. The voter turnout
(Unofficial results) was 52% for the Provincial election and 40% for the Municipal
election. How can voter turnout be increased in our community?
4. How can civic engagement be strengthened in our community?
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Appendix 1: Initiatives Highlighted
Title
Making Votes Count
Where You Live
Youth Futures
Equity and Inclusion Lens
DiverseCity onBoard
Program (DoB)
Traffic Stop Race Data
Collection Project
Description
Making Votes Count is a three-year project, co-sponsored by
The Coalition of Community Health and Resource Centres
and City for All Women Initiative (CAWI). It is a grass roots
initiative that aims to engage Ottawa residents in the
electoral process. The project launched the Creating a City
for All campaign to achieve its goal during the municipal,
provincial, and federal elections in 2014 and 2015.
Youth Futures is a 7 month program targeted to high school
students from low income families that provides skills,
information, support and practical summer employment work
experience to succeed in college, university and the work
force. It provides (in both official languages) advanced
leadership training, a variety of employment positions and a
post-secondary experience.
The Youth Futures program is funded in part by the City of
Ottawa’s Housing and Homelessness Investment Plan.
There is no cost for the student participants.
The Equity and Inclusion Lens is a tool that was developed in
2009 and updated in 2014 by the City of Ottawa, in
partnership with City for all Women Initiative (CAWI) and the
community. The Lens enables staff to be systematic,
consistent and coherent in our efforts to promote equity and
inclusion in our work. It helps staff to understand and
respond to the needs of an increasingly diverse population;
recognize and engage the skills, experience and knowledge
of all residents; create policies, programs and services that
address systemic barriers; and attract, promote and retain a
talented workforce.
Since 2006, the Maytree Foundation has been operating
DiverseCity onBoard in the Greater Toronto Area and has
received a United Nations Alliance of Civilizations/BMW
Intercultural Innovation Award. The program connects
qualified candidates from visible minority and
underrepresented immigrant communities to the governance
bodies of public agencies, boards, commissions and
nonprofits.
In 2014, Volunteer Ottawa partnered with Maytree along with
Hamilton and London to implement the program in Ottawa to
recruit qualified candidates and organizations seeking
diverse board members. The Program was launched in April
2015.
Since April 2013, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) has been
actively engaged with community partners, the Ontario
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Title
Mobilizing Ottawans to
Shape our Urban Future
The Neighbourhood
Connection Office Toolkit
Community Development
Framework (CDF)
Learning Forum
Description
Human Rights Commission (OHRC), police members, and a
research team from York University in the development and
implementation of the Traffic Stop Race Data Collection
Project. Starting on June 27, 2013, OPS officers started
recording their perception of driver race using the existing incar computer system, as part of the regular process used for
conducting all traffic stops.
In 2015, Citizens Academy, in partnership with Cities for
People, is hosting roundtable discussions to engage Ottawa
in the co-creation of a national policy action agenda for cities.
The aim will be to reveal new insights into the challenges we
face, and identify a path forward for cities to achieve
resilience, prosperity and inclusivity.
Roundtables are being hosted across the country. Three
sessions were planned in Ottawa in February.
The Neighbourhood Connection Office Toolkit, an initiative of
The Neighbourhood Connection Office (NCO), is a “do-ityourself”, go-to resource where residents can find practical
tips, hands-on tools, and creative ideas for small-scale
projects.
NCO helps residents and community groups work together
on small-scale projects that make their neighbourhoods more
liveable, vibrant, healthy and beautiful.
The Community Development Framework (CDF) Learning
Forum is an annual event bringing together, from across the
city, residents and service providers who are working
together to create positive change in their neighbourhoods.
The goal of the event is to provide an opportunity to celebrate
accomplishments, learn from one another and be inspired
and motivated by new ideas and meeting new people. Each
Forum, which is attended by 125 – 175 people has a
particular theme that has been identified through the
neighbourhood work .Themes have included Neighbourhood
Leadership, Food and Neighbourhoods and, Sharing
Neighbourhood Successes. Organized by a working group
of partners and resident leaders, the Forum benefits from the
involvement of several agencies, most notably the skills and
knowledge of City For All Women Initiative.
Click on the title to access the initiative’s website.
Note: These programs and links are offered for information purposes only and should
not be construed as an endorsement of the referenced organization’s programs or
activities.
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Notes Page
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