Involvement in a comprehensive community planning process
An accessible starting point for students to become involved in community actions is to become involved in the comprehensive community planning process.
The Canadian Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development website describes comprehensive community planning as a holistic process undertaken with broad community participation. A comprehensive approach:
A comprehensive community plan addresses key planning areas, all of which are interrelated and interdependent: governance, land and resources, health, infrastructure development, culture, social issues, and the economy. Consideration of all key planning areas through one unified process defines community planning as a holistic and integrated exercise that can lead to sustainable development.
The scope of this definition should encourage school involvement. Participation in such enterprises not only informs students about how community plans and decisions are arrived at, but their participation promotes and active role in citizenship. Students. classes and /or schools can initiate a participation in the planning activity by becoming well informed about one specific aspect of the plan, collecting relevant data in credible ways and presenting their observations, analysis and conclusions at community planing meetings.
Participation in such planning processes introduces students to the idea and application of the concept of sustainable development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (adapted from the Brundtland Commission, 1987)
Sustainable development takes a long-term view. It encompasses all areas of our lives, including the economy, the environment (lands and resources), and the social and cultural aspects of our communities, including governance, education and health.Sustainable development is the guiding principle of comprehensive community planning.
For more information, visit:
The Canadian Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development website describes comprehensive community planning as a holistic process undertaken with broad community participation. A comprehensive approach:
- enables the community to establish a vision for its future and implement projects to achieve this vision
- helps to ensure that community projects and programs are thought through, make sense and are the best use of resources
- integrates and links all other plans the community has produced
A comprehensive community plan addresses key planning areas, all of which are interrelated and interdependent: governance, land and resources, health, infrastructure development, culture, social issues, and the economy. Consideration of all key planning areas through one unified process defines community planning as a holistic and integrated exercise that can lead to sustainable development.
The scope of this definition should encourage school involvement. Participation in such enterprises not only informs students about how community plans and decisions are arrived at, but their participation promotes and active role in citizenship. Students. classes and /or schools can initiate a participation in the planning activity by becoming well informed about one specific aspect of the plan, collecting relevant data in credible ways and presenting their observations, analysis and conclusions at community planing meetings.
Participation in such planning processes introduces students to the idea and application of the concept of sustainable development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (adapted from the Brundtland Commission, 1987)
Sustainable development takes a long-term view. It encompasses all areas of our lives, including the economy, the environment (lands and resources), and the social and cultural aspects of our communities, including governance, education and health.Sustainable development is the guiding principle of comprehensive community planning.
For more information, visit:
- An Introduction to Sustainability: www.sustainablemeasures.com
- Towards Sustainable Communities - Resources for Citizens and their Governments:
www.sfu.ca/cscd/publications/tsc/Resources.html
- understanding of property rights and where property information can be found,
- how community planning processes work and how appropriate interventions may be undertake.
- The types of information and/or surveys students may undertake as part of the planning process