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About 220 citizens answered the call last Wednesday evening June 10 by going to the gym at the William Hingston community centre to take part in the first citizen forum in Park Extension. A followup to a meeting held last April 28 with the goal of launching a new concertation table for the neighbourhood, citizens of all ages, from all horizons and all conditions got together, more determined than ever to improve daily life in their community.
Objectives and what happened
The goal of the meeting was clear: to establish a dialogue between the citizens of Park Extension in order to identify problems and try to find answers, or at least pathways to follow in order to improve the quality of life in the area. After a warm welcome and few words, followed by a snack and a period for everyone to meet and chat with a neighbour or relative, groups formed and got down to work.
For nearly three hours, discussion groups made up of 10 persons exchanged views, debated and exchanged on different subjects, such as public installations,security, cleanliness, housing food security, employment, services for seniors, women, family, the rightful place of cultural diversity, and young people, to name only a few.
An exercise in style
The exchanges which were taking place under the supervision of an animator and for which all the themes had previously been defined at preliminary meetings held last March and April revolved around some fairly unique ideas: the representation at each adjacent discussion table; each part – roots, trunk and leaves – symbolizing the different stages of the process to be completed and known: At the root level: to identify at the conclusion of a common school of thought, the wealth and traditions of the neighbourhood, or in other words the already existing resources.
At the trunk level: to identify the wants and needs that are preoccupying the population and that require reflection. At the level of the leaves: the constructive conclusion of the process, aiming to understand the solutions and proposed actions, whether it be something to be brought back for a later plenary sessions, that will need further work after.
Various preoccupations towards common solutions<
The exercise, while very original, seems to have worked well, since after three hours of exchanges each group was able to present solutions for all the problems mentioned. However, certain recurring themes demonstrated a preoccupation by the residents with specific problems: security, housing, unemployment and job creation, the isolation of women and the aged, youths, cleanliness, green spaces and certain issues important to the ethnic communities.
All these ideas, which were expressed by a community anxious to improve the quallity of life in their vicinity, demonstrated the need for such a meeting, if only to be able to identify the needs in comprarison to the what is missing in the current situation.
Followup and next meeting
“Allowing the citizens to express their needs and acting on them proactively,” is the course that the participants are proposing in order to bring about change. The ultimate goal is to develop a permanent venue for concerted efforts in order to implement efficient actions plans that could make all the difference for the residents of Park Extension. According to the organizers, “It is very important to take what presently does not work and to go after the problems realistically, to work together to raise awareness for more effective results.”
A followup meeting is already being planned for the autumn. That meeting, which is supposed to take place over an entire day, will be aiming to proceed with the idea of a concertation space, which to date seems to be encouraging more than one citizen to become involved. According to some, the residents have made such progress they’re not about to stop now! Thus the next meeting is October 10, 2009 (time and place to be announced).