Strategic Initiatives and Social Planning

Social Planning involves thorough research, analysis, and strategic development to tackle pressing social problems and elevate community results. By identifying trends, performing needs assessments, and developing effective policies, social planning aims to foster a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient community through evidence-based strategies and cooperative efforts with essential community partners and key stakeholders.

Generating Sustainable Community Resiliency

Social, Cultural, and Economic Development Framework

The City’s social plan will be integrated to focus on social, cultural and economic aspects, emphasizing sustainability and fostering relationships with the Indigenous community.

This process was facilitated by a thorough community engagement process involving diverse groups and with those, who may not always be actively engaged in civic processes, identifying top priorities to be implemented.

This framework will examine the City’s challenges to drive impactful solutions across various sectors and levels of government. It will also tie into the City’s Key Performance Indicator dashboard to:

  • Monitor change
  • Target strategic action and investment
  • Support accountable shared outcomes
  • Generate the greatest community impact

What has been done:

  • Created a Community Infrastructure Environmental Scan Report to identify key areas to meet housing, health, community service, and support needs
  • Launched the Restorative Community Dialogue process, inviting a diverse cross-section of the community to identify key needs, strengths, opportunities, and actions to support a healthy, resilient, and sustainable community.
  • Endorsed the creation of its first Social, Cultural, and Economic Development Committee (SCEDC)
  • City Council has endorsed the development of a shared outcome approach to supporting vulnerable individuals in accessing housing, health services, and support through promoting strong collaboration and partnerships with all levels of government, Indigenous community partners, service providers, and the community.
  • A Community Asset Inventory was created to work together with the community to connect individuals in various City-sponsored endeavours and projects 
  • Hosted the Village Cafe Resource and Referral Fair to foster support and community by connecting residents, organizations, and essential services. Each fair explored housing, community health, wellness & safety, family resilience, transportation, employment & training, community integration, and diversity celebrations.
  • Tested the concept of the Citizen's Assembly, a group of individuals who explore and discuss community issues and propose solutions through solution labs to include citizens in the decision-making processes. 
  • A Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Dashboard is in development to support the City's alignment of its strategic areas, key functions, and work in the community. The dashboard will allow the City to monitor in real-time that resources are being used most beneficially.

What is next?

Fall 2024Co-Design Team and Focus Group sessions
Fall 2024the Community Forum to present a draft strategic implementation plan to the community to determine priority actions
Fall 2024Present to Council for consideration
Fall 2024/Winter 2025Subject to Council’s endorsement following a presentation to Council anticipated for Fall 2024, working groups (Solution Lab innovation pods) will be activated for 3-4 co-design/action sessions.
Spring 2025
The community will be invited to participate in the Community Resiliency Forum, where priorities for the Sustainable Resiliency Framework will be set. This framework will guide the city's approach to sustainable development, resiliency, and community health.
June 2025The first version of the KPI Dashboard is projected to roll out in June 2025, which will include KPI's identified for the Citizen Assembly and focus topics. The KPI Dashboard will launch, incorporating data from the Citizen Assembly and broader community engagement, tracking progress on key performance indicators tied to community safety, health, and well-being.