25 Years Later, ThinkCity Returns to Reconnect Vancouver Residents With Power

A question about civic voice

Do Residents Actually Feel They Have a Say?

Vancouver continues to debate housing, development and the future of public life. For Penny Perry, the deeper question is whether residents believe they can influence what happens around them.

Her community work with children, youth and families has shown her how easily people can become disconnected from the systems making decisions about their neighbourhoods. Information may be available, but information alone does not necessarily create a sense of civic power.

Perry also connects civic power with the physical city. As neighbourhoods change, redevelopment expands and municipal processes become difficult to navigate, residents can feel disempowered before they have even decided how they want to participate.

Rebuilding civic connection

ThinkCity Aims to Challenge That.

The renewed organization aims to connect people with clearer information, community conversations and opportunities to engage with public issues.

An important part of that work is reaching people who are not already involved. The longer-term goal is to build connections through conversations, public events and networks that continue beyond a single moment of participation.