Presentation at the Ottawa symposium of Community-Based Research Canada, May 2009.

1. Questions of the day
• CBR models that work
• Recession to renewal: What can
CBR contribute?

2. Community-Based Research

3. In other words…
• Is a collaborative/inclusive, people-based enterprise between
affected stakeholders (e.g. academic researchers and community
members);
• Considers scholarly rigour and timeliness alongside
collaboration/inclusion;
• Democratizes knowledge by valuing multiple sources of knowledge
and promoting the use of multiple methods of discovery and
dissemination;
• Has the main goal of social action for the purposes of achieving
social change and social and environmental justice.[1]
[1] Adapted from: Strand, K., N. Marullo, et al. (2003). "Principles of
Best Practice for Community-Based Research." Michigan Journal of
Community Service-Learning 9(3): 5-15.

4. Some Canadian off-campus
approaches
• Milton Park neighbourhood project
(Montreal)
• Centre for Community-Based Research
(Kitchener-Waterloo)
• UBC Learning Exchange (Vancouver)
• York/TD Community Engagement Centre
(Toronto)

5. York University — TD Community Engagement Centre
• Opened November 2008
• “Teaching, learning and resource centre for fostering
partnerships between the university and the community.”
• Guided by, and accountable to, an Advisory Council of
community leaders and faculty members.
• Centre located in a mall in Jane-Finch area of Toronto.
• Student/outsider training…“Community-based learning;
hands-on; volunteer service; relevant to course curricula”
• “Supporting research collaborations between community
organizations and faculty members who share a
commitment to building strong neighbourhoods”

6. Peterborough approach
• Trent Centre for Community-Based
Education: non-profit w/ board &
community advisory committees
• Community-Based Education Program
(students)
• Strategic Research Initiative (involving
faculty; like CURA)

7. Recession to renewal:
What can community-based research
contribute?
Our working model
(a work in progress)

8. Addressing complex
Cross-cultural communication issues (vs. complicated
Multi-disciplinary approaches = Stories, knowing or simple)
Relationships (they take time) & healing
Strategic use of
resources
Community-Based Research
Organization-specific •Discrete projects (single stage)
•Linked projects Community-
driven
Multi-organizational •Multi-stage, externally funded outcomes
projects (short, medium,
long-term)
-Essential skills (leadership)
-Economic activity (job creation, Meaningful education
services)
-Economic
1. Telling the story
-Social
2. Accountability
-Environmental
3. Planning
-Cultural

9. gov’t, private sector, service Complex: Aging
agencies, sociology, english, workforce &
psychology, enviro science, = Stories, knowing sustainability
geography, math, economics…
One year prep, 2-year project & healing
Strategic resource use:
agencies; CBE program;
office of research;
Strategic Research Initiative leveraging grants
•GIS database and application
(Grad student, ERS)
Multi-organizational •Demographic statistical analysis
Short: employer
(4th yr Econ class)
strategies
Medium: research
•Aging workforce & sustainability
model
(2yrs; Possible funding: New
Long: policy
Horizons for Seniors, SSHRC,
-Essential skills: project change; well-being
MTCU, CFDC…)
management, communication
Applying gender
-Economic activity: Coordinator, and occupational
meetings, travel, data acquisition, theory -Economic
outreach
1. Telling the story -Social
2. Accountability -Environmental
3. Planning -Cultural