Guiding urban communities in climbing the Ladder of Engagement in environmental conservation
Presented by: Kate Goodale, Coordinator Government and Community Relations, TRCA
November 19 2019
• Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
• Community Engagement Models
• Example: Consultation • Carruthers Watershed
Plan
• Example: Empowerment • TRCA Youth Council
• Challenges • Conclusion
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Outline
The goal of community engagement will be different for different groups, project, and initiatives.
• Educate • Inform • Empower • Build Capacity
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Why do community engagement?
Ladder of Citizen Participation (Arnstein 1969) Arguably the bench-mark for modern community engagement models
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Ladder of Engagement
Some caveats: hierarchical in nature—engagement is more iterative by nature
Consider project goals: - How is the public to be involved? - If you are building capacity or empowering is there
corporate appetite for this? (buy-in, funding, etc) - Is your project team on the same page? - What are the limitations of engagement? (set reasonable
expectations) - Try not to be scared of real public input!
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Community Engagement Approaches
Goal: To inform the local public of watershed plan and to gain input on project goals and objectives.
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Informing and Consulting: Carruthers Creek Watershed Plan
• Consultation is not mandated • Public cannot necessarily guide
land-use decisions • Public can provide input on direction
of study
• Community Engagement Strategy 2017
• Body under the Regional Watershed Alliance
• Steering committee of TRCA staff and RWA members
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Empowering: TRCA Youth Council
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Youth Council Framework and Goals
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Membership
General Members • Engage as much or
as little as they want
Executive Members • Apply, 10 are selected • Responsible for leading the Youth
Council • One year term
• Individuals who reside or attend school within TRCA’s jurisdiction • Ages 16-24 (revised to 16-30 in 2019) • Opened Registration in October 2018
All members were required to fill out a short survey: • Identify most important issues • Perceptions of local environmental health • Demographics
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Youth Perspectives
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Demographics
Female, 72%
Male, 28%
178 members (general and executive)
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Demographics 178 members (general and executive)
Toronto, 62%
Peel, 12%
York, 19%
Durham, 3%
Outside, 5%
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Top Ten Selected Issues
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
ClimateChange
SustainableDevelopment
Wildlife andHabitat
Conservation
Education WaterQuality/Source
WaterProtection
Access toGreen Space,
Parks andNatural Areas
Biodiversity RenewableEnergy
WasteManagement
Food Security
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Issues by Municipality
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
ClimateChange
SustainableDevelopment
Wildlife andHabitat
Conservation
Education WaterQuality/Source
WaterProtection
Access toGreen Space,
Parks andNatural Areas
Biodiversity RenewableEnergy
WasteManagement
Food Security
Peel n=21 Toronto n=109 York n=34
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2018/19 Activities
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2018/19 Activities
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2018/19 Activities
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2018/19 Activities
• Staying within scope • Internal pressures from other teams • Keeping expectations realistic
• Engaging the right audience • Some key demographics are missing
• Keeping audience engaged • Not all execs continued to participate
• Making sure they have autonomy • Fine line between guiding/supporting and directing
• Finding the right mode of communication • How can we get the general members more active?
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Challenges
• There are lots of reasons to do community engagement, make sure you know why you are doing it.
• Set realistic expectations
• Make sure that everyone is on board
• Meaningful engagement is iterative, learn from your challenges and mistakes
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Conclusion
www.trca.ca
Kate Goodale MES Coodinator Government and Community Relations Community Engagement and Outreach [email protected]
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