In this edition, we're exploring virtual community engagement, highlighting a neighbourhood strategy in Vancouver and working through how to prioritize solutions.

The pandemic has required many of us to shift our community engagement activities to virtual settings. In this article, Amanda shares her reflections on the hybrid meeting model discussed in depth within the Virtual Community Engagement Guide: A Toolkit for Hosting Online Community Engagement and Meetings in Rural, Remote, and Indigenous Communities.

Despite the limitations of virtual engagement, these hybrid meetings make the most of the benefits of online community engagement and maintain many of the benefits of in-person events.

Citizens take the lead in Vancouver's Kitsilano neighbourhood

By: Ksenia Stepkina and Dan Ritchie

In this article, one of the Deepening Community members, Ksenia Stepkina, walks us through her process for organizing a neighbourhood strategy in the Kitsilano neighbourhood, British Columbia. Ksenia discusses the initial vision, how the case for a strategy was built and the development of their leadership team. In addition, this article provides arguments for moving from an institution-centred approach to a community-led, grassroots approach. 

How do you prioritize potential solutions?

By: Lisa Attygalle

There are always more good ideas than are possible to implement. So how do we prioritize which solutions to pursue? Through our work facilitating community conversations, co-design sessions, and collaborative initiatives, we’ve learned that the moment of prioritization is an important one. If done well, a group can achieve a sense of alignment that can fuel action and build momentum for the work to come. So what’s important? We’ve captured five guiding ideas and a list of questions that you can use to understand the impact, feasibility, viability, risk, resistance, and enablers of your potential solutions.