LET’S was contacted by the Dialogue and Engagement Coordinator at the SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue. They were organizing a community dialogue program in the City of Burnaby.
In early 2024, the Burnaby Residents’ Assembly on Livable and Resilient Neighbourhoods was launched. This process saw a representative body of 40-50 Burnaby residents who met over 7 Saturdays to create recommendations for the City’s next Official Community Plan.
The City of Burnaby’s Official Community Plan (OCP) presents a long-term vision for the community. It provides the strategic direction, framework and guidance to meet the anticipated needs of the community while ensuring Burnaby is an even more desirable place to live, work and invest in the future.
(Group of people, at a table, having a conversation.)
The OCP integrates land use, transportation, housing, the environment, community facilities and services, and social and economic planning into a broad strategy to direct the growth and development of the city. The OCP’s six strategic directions collectively offer choice and diversity of opportunity in meeting our anticipated needs while protecting and enhancing our community assets.
LET’S was contacted as the organizers were “very interested in your insights on enhancing accessibility in Burnaby for individuals with diverse physical needs.” Following our initial conversation, we were invited to be a panelist on the Community Experience Reference Panel for the Burnaby Community Assembly Meeting #5 on May 4th.
In addition to speaking on the panel, LET’S also provided stim items for participants, a booth with information about our organization and services, and we participated in group table discussions about a broad range of subjects affecting residents in the city of Burnaby.