October 11, 2013 - 5:46am
Geography students at Vancouver Island University (VIU) are helping to shape the future of BC communities.
Students in Dr. Pam Shaw’s geography classes are engaged in a study designed to revitalize an important historical neighbourhood in Campbell River.
Shaw’s students have also assisted the City of Nanaimo with the Harewood Neighbourhood Plan project, and helped craft Official Community Plans (OCPs) for the town of Bamfield and Toquaht First Nation, a small community near Ucluelet.
“There are huge benefits for university students who have the opportunity to work on real-life applied projects with local governments, consultants, residents and First Nations groups,” says Shaw. “They gain first-hand experience in community based planning research, and engage with the public in meaningful ways.
“It’s exciting to see students apply what they’ve learned in the classroom. The skills and lessons they learn will stay with them throughout their lifetime, and increase their employability.”
As part of their course work, Shaw’s current group of geography students are working on a study with the City of Campbell River and the newly formed Campbellton Neighbourhood Association to examine the social, economic, environmental and infrastructure factors affecting that neighbourhood.
The study will address specific issues and propose solutions that could lead to social/economic revitalization of the Campbellton area. In coming weeks, Shaw’s students will go door-to-door to gather feedback from residents and business owners about things to change or preserve in the neighbourhood.
Shaw was contacted by Ross Blackwell, Land Use Services Manager for the City of Campbell River to assist with the study after he heard about the success of her students’ work for other BC communities. One of those projects involved developing an OCP for Bamfield.
Working with the Alberni Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD), students in three of Shaw’s geography classes helped create and implement a communications and consultation plan, met with residents in Bamfield, facilitated community meetings to gather input, and helped write a draft OCP.
Now adopted by the ACRD, the plan is shaping future land development. It designates future growth and no-growth areas in Bamfield and incorporates objectives and policies for both the protection of existing features and rehabilitation of areas impacted by previous development.
Based on the success of that project, Shaw and her students were invited to develop a similar plan for Toquaht First Nation. “It was an interesting request because Toquaht First Nation was one of five Nations that recently finalized their treaty process,” says Shaw. “They now have the rights and responsibilities to make their own decisions on land use, environmental protection, services and housing.”
With a small budget, Shaw’s team of students organized and facilitated community meetings and presentations in Toquaht First Nation, and conducted detailed research. The final OCP was presented to the Chief and Council of Toquaht First Nation in May 2013.
Communities reap tremendous benefits by partnering with the University on planning projects, says Shaw.
“They end up with an excellent product prepared by 60 brilliant minds under the guidance of VIU faculty and professionals in the field for an extremely reasonable cost,” says Shaw. “The level of detail we achieved (in our reports) would not be possible for a staff team or small consulting company. You simply can’t get better value than that.”
Organizations or communities interested in working with VIU on a community engagement initiative are encouraged to email Dr. Robin June Hood at Robin.Hood@viu.ca. For more information, visit www.viu.ca/cbri.
ABOUT VIU: Vancouver Island University is Canada’s west coast university. Known as a centre of excellence for teaching, learning and applied research, VIU offers a diverse range of certificate, diploma and undergraduate and master degree programs to more than 18,000 students on campuses in Nanaimo, Powell River and Cowichan, and at the Parksville-Qualicum Centre. For more information visit www.viu.ca
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Tags: In the Community
