Kate McAllister

Topic

The lived experience of North Park neighbourhood residents as it relates to community planning, social inclusion, and well-being

School of Pubic Health and Social Policy

Date & location

• Monday, April 8, 2024
• 2:00 P.M.
• Virtual Defence

Examining Committee

Supervisory Committee

• Dr. Nathan Lachowsky, School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria (Supervisor)
• Dr. Kiffer Card, School of Public Health and Social Policy, UVic (Co-Supervisor)

External Examiner

• Dr. Denise Cloutier, Department of Geography, UVic

Chair of Oral Examination

• Dr. Leslee Francis Pelton Department of Curriculum and Instruction, UVic

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to gather information and gain input about the health, wellness, and social inclusion of those living, working, and spending time in the City of Victoria’s North Park neighbourhood. Methodology was rooted in community-based participatory research in partnership with the North Park Neighbourhood Association. By learning from the lived experiences, the voices from the community help to guide the research process and ensure it reflects current needs. Through a collaborative approach involving local stakeholders, a needs assessment was developed using qualitative methods including semi-structured 60-90 minute interviews with 19 participants, a short demographic survey, and a neighbourhood mapping activity. Interview data were analyzed using Braun and Clark’s (2006) thematic analysis. Community members perceptions of the North Park neighbourhood were very diverse, often contextualized as being in a period of transition, and encompassed topics including interpersonal relationships, physical characteristics, and impact of policy on daily living. Residents expressed frustration over lack of ownership in political decision-making processes. Concerns over physical safety and tensions between different actors in the community was evident, particularly through housed and unhoused community members. While many advocated for inclusivity and compassion, exclusionary attitudes highlighted the ongoing territorialization of public space. Participants discussed the importance of and challenges engaging in public space to connect with their community. Placemaking was both a barrier and facilitator to community connection. Residents’ were concerned with current and planned development (e.g., ongoing densification and gentrification) resulting in potential displacement and lack of opportunity, counteracted by importance placed on community needs for social infrastructure outside of new housing initiatives. Accessible, quality public space, including green space, was evidenced as an essential but limited resource in the community for promoting well-being and inclusion. Community programming and public free-of-charge events were emphasized as invaluable opportunities to build social connection, meet neighbours, and break down barriers. In conclusion, this research underscores the importance of centering community voices in neighbourhood planning and decision-making processes. It highlights the ongoing economic and development pressures faced by small urban low-income neighbourhoods. In North Park, these pressures grow territorial stigma, reproduce inequities, and increase community
frustration. However, the desire to engage with and build community connection and capacity was also evident. Building social capacity can dismantle some processes enacted through territorial stigma. However, increasing community and local government buy-in are essential to actualizing this. Communities are not homogenous nor stagnant entities. Understanding the various stakeholders needs and balancing these through equitable decision-making processes can help to increase community well-being, resilience, and connection.