In the Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Program (SNAP), we take pride in the depth and breadth of our community engagement approaches.
We have now completed Phase 1 and 2 of the planning process for Thornhill SNAP. Learn more about the results of all the engagement done to date.
Public Engagement Accomplishments:
Phases 1 & 2
- One-on-one meetings with nine local stakeholders, including local agencies and institutions, community leaders, faith-based organizations, and schools
- Resident surveys mailed out to every household in the study area, with 103 responses received
- The first consultation meeting with Curve Lake First Nations completed, with follow-ups planned to explore opportunities to introduce indigenous considerations and perspectives into the action plan
- Consideration taken of any recommendations from resident emails and other feedback documents
- Completion of Inspirational Workshop #1 (see below)
Inspirational Workshop #1
Staff, local stakeholders, and residents came together for a full day of social innovation activities that encouraged participants to acknowledge the past and the present, and to envision a shared future for their neighbourhood.
There were 70 people in attendance, including 51 residents and 19 staff.
Great feedback was received, with 1,450 comments recorded. Nine residents signed up as volunteers to support the project.
Thornhill SNAP: Motivating Themes
Five key motivating themes emerged from the community engagement undertaken in Phase 1 and 2 of the Thornhill SNAP planning process. These themes will inform the development of project ideas in Phase 3 of our action planning process.
1. Nature in the City
People requested more trees and habitat on public and private properties (especially main streets, parks, and homes). They want ways to encourage contact with nature — for example, through outdoor programming, trails, and better signage.
2. Revitalized, Connected Parks & Open Spaces
Again, the call for more trees and habitat in parks and open areas, with shade and seating and art installations. Residents want these areas to become inclusive community-building spaces that are livable and human, with accessible, multi-age, and multi-season recreation facilities for events and sports
Residents would also like to see unique destinations created in parks, with greenspaces that are well connected through trails and wayfinding. They also want to be sure their green spaces are safe with loitering addressed and potential for terrorism considered.
3. Pleasant, Connected Active Transportation
Residents suggested the need to improve walkability and bikeability, for both recreational and commuting purposes. They want these connections to be accessible for seniors, with wayfinding and places to sit.
4. Community Connections & Livability
Residents expressed a desire for their community to have better connections, such as those between apartment tower sites and single family homes, both north and south of the railway tracks. To improve livability, they would like to see spaces designed to encourage community-building and to host community events and intergenerational programming.
5. Sustainable Retrofits in Homes and Institutions
There is a keen interest in energy efficiency, renewables, and electric vehicles, as well as water conservation, stormwater management, flood prevention, and waste management measures. Such measures could be adopted in homes and other buildings in the neighbourhood through the introduction of rain barrels, recycling, reuse programs, tree planting, and habitat creation.
A number of secondary themes also emerged:
- Flood Prevention (60% of survey respondents are concerned; most of the comments were about street flooding)
- Aging in Place and Accessibility (emergency preparedness, multi-geenerational programming, accessible design of public spaces)
- Safety and Security (robbery and hate crimes)
- History and Culture (historical heritage, arts, education)
- Local Food (farmers market, community gardens, greenhouses, orchards), although urban agriculture did not rank high in the survey
- Traffic and Transit (reduce congestion, improve access to transit)
- New Development (interest in affordable housing; concerns around high-rise towers/services and congestion; desire for more nature in new developments)
- City Services (litter pickup on streets parks, improved maintenance of infrastructure, repair of clogged drainage, leaf removal and maintenance of trees)