2021 15-Minute Neighbourhood Community Engagement Project

Students from a Carleton University Foundations of Community Engagement course worked with seven community associations on a 15-Minute Neighbourhood Community Engagement Project during the fall 2021 semester. Participating community associations included Glebe, City View, Queensway Terrace North, Navan, Kanata Beaverbrook, Hunt Club, and Action Sandy Hill. Student teams were each matched with a community association to work on a communications project to support them in meeting their goals surrounding 15-minute neighbourhoods. The class created an interactive map of the City of Ottawa, which shows community associations and displays the communications products. Products include, but are not limited to, infographics, social media content, videos, brochures, and surveys that the community associations can use for their own communications and outreach needs.

Student teams presented their final projects to the community association partners in class on December 10th. For more details on the products and testimonials, see below!

"We are very pleased with the work that was done - innovation!"

- Community Association Partner

"We learned valuable new skills in making the maps and using Canva - both can be used in future community engagement projects of our own. It gave us the knowledge and confidence to participate more in our communities outside this course. Working collaboratively with our community associates helped familiarize us with how community engagement looks in real life."

- Carleton University student, Foundations of Community Engagement course

"We are really impressed with the creativity."

- Community Association partner

"The knowledge gained during this process has allowed us to consider community needs through a compassionate lens."

- Carleton University student, Foundations of Community Engagement course

"This project inspired me to get involved in my own community."

- Carleton University student, Foundations of Community Engagement course

Check out the interactive map by clicking the image below!

The student team with the Glebe Community Association worked on the following deliverables:

Social media content for the Environment Committee Instagram account on the 2021-2022 Neighbourhood Canopy Regeneration Project and other environmental matters in the community
A map showing community services, parks, schools, etc.

The student team with the City View Community Association worked on the following deliverables:

A map to demonstrate the needs of the community, such as improved walking infrastructure and trees
A video to inform the community on what a 15-minute neighbourhood is and how it applies to their community
An infographic to show what a 15-minute neighbourhood is and to display the challenges the community currently faces in implementing this model

The student team with the Queensway Terrace North Community Association worked on the following deliverables:

A brochure on the changes in infrastructure coming to the community, what it will mean, and what can be done about it
A greenspace brochure to pass information to residents about the future of the community
A connectivity map showing pathways, bus routes, etc.
An essential services map
A PowerPoint presentation that the community association can use to inform residents about the community

The student team with the Navan Community Association worked on the following deliverables:

A map showing the community
A recommended marketing/social media strategy with the goal of expanding the community association's online presence, with a focus on increasing youth engagement

The student team with the Kanata Beaverbrook Community Association worked on the following deliverables:

Infographics and a brochure to inform residents about opportunities to get involved, bring in more volunteers, and to share current projects (e.g. Neighbourwoods)
An online community survey to gain insight into the thoughts and opinions of residents
A map showing the community (biking and walking routes, small businesses, etc.)

The student team with the Hunt Club Community Association worked on the following deliverables:

An online community survey to gauge who is aware of the community association and to create a space for residents to express their needs
A small business list to encourage people to shop locally and to promote 15-minute neighbourhoods
Infographics to show the importance of having a library in the community
A video on the issues the community faces with inadequate sidewalks and bike lanes

The student team with Action Sandy Hill worked on the following deliverables:

A community services map
An active transportation map
Socially shareable graphics to highlight local businesses and services and to highlight residents