Is it feasible that placemaking can be at the heart of everything we build? Of course it can – and, first we need to understand its importance and why it’s so integral. When it comes to the built environment we could be hitting a home run with every project we undertake. As stewards of our […]
Roundabout to Hope
In 2016 a bold vision and collaborative process began in an effort to bring the Circle Series: Circle of Support & Arts to the community of Red Deer, Alberta. It would support restorative practices, connection and arts for social change. The initiative was successfully launched earlier this year through dynamic partnerships and community collaborators. It […]
Public Safety, Compassion and Community Integration
As public safety remains a growing concern in cities around the world, how we treat our most vulnerable people must also be considered. How can we become more compassionate, support these people and help them integrate into our communities? I recently attended a conference which addressed these issues in Victoria, BC (where I now live) […]
Good mayors build strong, creative communities
Good mayors build strong, creative communities How often do you think about your mayor? If you’re like me, not often enough. Yet consider how a mayor can support you and your neighbourhood. Mayors have the ability to rethink the community – with added jobs, improved infrastructure and a collaborative government. According to the International Institute […]
Small space, new reality – how small can you go?
Small space, new reality – how small can you go? I spent years living full-time in a 26-foot trailer with my husband. In this home-is-where-you-park-it lifestyle, we flourished with less space and more mobility. While I don’t need sprawling rooms, just how minimalist can a person go with their living space? Sure, compact condos and […]
Crime Prevention and Capitalism: What’s the Rub? Part II
In part I of our blog feature from last week I presented the contrast between the corporate world and smaller communities such as Rocky Mountain House, where I recently spoke to about 50 local residents. These rural communities are found beyond the larger municipalities and the city limits. We explored the War on Drugs, policing […]
Crime Prevention and Capitalism: What’s the rub? Part I
We live in a world that often believes that bigger is better – more profit and income – larger homes and communities. That list is BIG and it seems to be growing all the time. This past week I found myself working in two different worlds. There was a stark contrast between them. Stepping into […]
Creative communities six feet under . . . our feet
When my uncle wanted help finding the grave site of a relative who died in the 1920s, I slipped into sleuthing mode. This relative was three when he succumbed to the flu so his brief history was preserved through little more than long-ago stories. Despite calls to cemeteries and churches in the boy’s city, I […]
Peacemaking Circles – Part II
by Dianna Bennett Community Engagement using Peacemaking Circles is not a novel concept, us European types are just slow learners. Circles have been used over the millennia by many first nations around the world. The first people’s (aka indigenous peoples) used Circle process to make serious decisions that impacted all in the community. Indigenous peoples […]
Peacemaking Circles
by Dianna Bennett What are Peacemaking Circles you ask? They are a restorative practice used in Restorative Justice, along with having a few other pretty amazing applications…so stay tuned. Restorative Justice is a voluntary process. It is a grassroots, community based response to crime or harm resulting from situations. It has been practiced in […]