Virtual Kitchen Table Talk
Come stay awhile! Register to join a small group discussion on Zoom.
Community engagement is defined as: “An intentional process with the purpose of working in inclusive and respectful ways to shape decisions, actions, impacts, or change.”
During our 2023-2026 strategic planning engagement process, residents told us they are interested in taking part in city decision-making and they want their input to make a difference.
Your advice to us was:
- Make engagement easy to understand and convenient to take part in
- Use many different ways to listen to and involve residents
- Everyone, including people of all ages, should be part of the conversation
- Don’t ask people to contribute if you’ve already made the decision
- Explain the decision-making process and show how resident contributions were considered
- Listen to us on a more regular basis, including in-between projects
- Do more to reach people and promote opportunities to take part
Tell us more about these ideas. Your input will be used to help shape and improve how we engage with you in future city decision-making.
The City of Kitchener has a long history of inviting public participation and dialogue. Throughout, we have also worked to improve how residents can shape decisions that affect their daily lives.
A 2016 review assessed the City’s community engagement efforts. It identified gaps, challenges, and opportunities. The result was our community engagement policy and framework. Since then, much has changed in Kitchener and the world. Residents have different needs and expectations about how we involve them today.
In our 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, we committed to further enhancing our engagement practices. This includes identifying opportunities to incorporate new approaches to engaging residents in decision-making.
We are now undertaking a comprehensive review of community engagement at the City. The outcome will be a revised policy and framework to guide how we engage residents in the future. We are also developing the City’s first community engagement strategy. This will direct how we improve our engagement practices moving forward.
We are looking for your thoughts, ideas and stories about your:
- Experiences engaging with the City
- Vision for the future of engagement in Kitchener
- Feedback on our draft values for how we engage you
- Ideas on how we can remove barriers to participation
There are many ways to get involved. We are offering virtual talks, fun fairs, event booths, online activities, and even a host your own option. Scroll down for more details.
Your feedback will inform revisions to our community engagement policy. For example, the values and principles that guide how we engage residents. Your input will also help shape our first community engagement strategy. This will include a vision and directions for improving our engagement practices moving forward.
Quick Poll
If you have engaged with the city before, how would you rate your experience overall?
How to get involved
Whether you only have 2 minutes, 20 minutes, or a whole hour to spare, there's a way for everyone to get involved.
Online activities
Let's talk! Share your thoughts, ideas and stories any time, anywhere. View and respond to what others have said.
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Feedback Fairs
Featuring free snacks and family fun at neighbourhoods across Kitchener. Pop in for a quick chat!
Visit our booth
Look for us at community events and spaces across Kitchener this spring. Swing by on your way!
Host your own
We have everything you need to host your own group discussion about engaging with the City.
Updates
We'll post regular updates about the project here. To get updates by email, click the ‘Follow’ button above.
