Community based research and engagement

Today, January 21, 3 people came to our class. The first two guests were Sarah Webb, from the Capital Region District (CRD) and Jordan Fisher from Jordan Fisher and associates. Sarah Webb (who is also my sponsor in our major projects) discussed community engagement, the CRD’s climate action program and the 4 goals of the program.

I believe community engagement is an important issue to tackle. It gives people a sense of community (duh) and can also increase social capital, a term I learned from last quarters sustainability program. Sense of community and community engagement, to me, means knowing you’re a member of a particular group, and making positive contributions toward the betterment of the community.
I play an active role on my community back home in Toronto. I try to clean up garbage whenever I see it. I email local business and industries inquiring about their pollution and other possible adverse affects as a result of their operation. I communicate, on occasion, with city councilors, with whatever issues are going on in my community.

Sarah also mentioned the climate action program (CAP). The CRD plans to be carbon neutral by 2012. I don’t think they are anywhere near reaching that goal in the 2 years left until that date. Perhaps the CRD is hoping on some sort of Armageddon scenario in 2012 and the 4 horseman will break the seven seals of climate change to destroy all the carbon in the region. An unlikely scenario, but there is a better chance of pale horse riding out of the sky then a government in Canada actually meeting a goal it set out.

The third guest of the day was Maeve Lydon. She works at UVIC in the office of community based research and is also involved with community based green mapping. I find the whole concept of a community green map really exciting. It reminds me of Sesame Street song “Who are the people in your neighbourhood”. The community map is an excellent idea to connect with their community to obtain a sense of place and purpose. Not only that, but it also highlights the environmentally positive aspects of a community, for the eco minded citizen.
I hope that sometime during my tenure at RRU, we’ll be able to get the chance to work on a community green map.