About Inclusive Cities
- Promote social inclusion as key to the development of a Canadian urban strategy
- Support civic capacity to build inclusive communities in which all people are able to participate as valued and contributing members
- Secure a stronger voice for communities in national social policy
- Ensure that community voices of diversity are recognized as core Canadian ones
Participants
Inclusive Cities Canada in a unique partnership of five social planning councils in association with the Standing Committee on Social Infrastructure of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).
The social planning councils are:
Co-chairs for the project are Dr.
Joey Edwardh, Executive Director of Community Development Halton and Councillor
Michael Phair, City of
What is Social Inclusion?
Social inclusion is both a process and an
outcome. As a process, social inclusion
promotes the open, welcome and supported participation of all people in social
planning and decision-making affecting their lives. As an outcome, an inclusive city is one that
provides opportunities for the optimal well-being and healthy development of
all children, youth and adults.
Social inclusion has been
identified by international policy makers, including the United Nations and
World Bank, as key to the “equitable and sustainable growth”[1]
of nations. Social Development Canada
includes the promotion of social inclusion in its mandate and the federal
government incorporates the concept in its New
Deal for Cities and Communities.
Practical expressions of
inclusion are: universal access to meaningful opportunities in education, the
arts, culture, and recreation; relevant health services, school curricula
adapted to specific needs and strengths, family support services and respite,
safe streets and parks, and responsive governance on all levels.
Research Process
Inclusive Cities Canada builds on previous research and community
development work undertaken by the Laidlaw Foundation and the Federation of
Canadian Municipalities, including a series of local soundings in 10 cities.[2] Based on this research and a review of
Canadian and international literature, ICC defined five dimensions of inclusion
as central to building inclusive cities and communities. These include: diversity, human development,
civic engagement, living conditions and community services.
A National Steering Committee comprised of members from the partner cities provided strategic direction. It developed a common framework and methodology for conducting the local research, using the five common areas of ’inclusivity’ each with three areas of inquiry as outlined in the following table.
|
Dimensions of Inclusion |
Cross-Canada Common Areas of
Inquiry |
||
|
Diversity |
Local Government |
Publicly Funded Education |
Policing & Justice System |
|
Human Development |
Early Childhood Education |
Publicly Funded Education |
Recreation/Arts/ Culture |
|
Civic Engagement |
Local Government |
Public Spaces |
Community Capacities |
|
Living Conditions |
Income & Employment |
Housing |
Community Safety |
|
Community Services |
Healthcare |
Crisis Services |
Transportation & Mobility |
Each social planning council established a Civic Panel comprised of elected municipal officials and community leaders, including members of the police, health, ethno-cultural, business, labour, education, culture, community service and faith communities. The panel provided leadership and supervision of local civic audits on social inclusion.
A focus group process was designed in each city bringing together the knowledge and experiences of various key informants to discuss the dimensions of social inclusion, as well as proposals for change.
Based on the focus group findings further community soundings were held with community members and service providers familiar with the conditions of the population. While the number and composition of the soundings varied by city, they included discussions with: new immigrants; aboriginal peoples; the homeless; persons with disabilities; youth; women; and, the gay, lesbian and transgendered community.
In addition, community feedback forums were held to corroborate and enrich the research findings. In total 1,000 participants took part across the five sites. The analysis of the findings from the focus groups, the community soundings and feedback forums are presented in the community reports along with their recommendations.
Next Steps
Representatives of the five participating
communities will meet at a national roundtable in
Funding
Social Development Canada has supported
the work of