Kitchen Table Talks 2015 preliminary results were shared during the Decent Lives and Strong Neighbourhoods community forum. The informal conversations were held in Kitchener-Waterloo from July until September 2015. The final report will be shared, including insights gathered from discussions at three Decent Lives forums held in 2015. The findings will be offered to inform the work of the Community Social Planning Council and neighbourhood strategies of Kitchener and Waterloo.

1. Strong Neighbourhoods
To Support
Decent Lives for All
2015 Kitchen Table Talks
Social Development Centre Waterloo Region
Advancing community through participation & knowledge

2. December 3rd
UN International Day of Persons
With Disabilities since 1992
2015 Theme: Inclusion Matters
Making Cities Inclusive and
Accessible for All

3. Decent Lives Forums and
Kitchen Table Talks (KTT)
 May 1 – Decent Work & Decent Income
 June 22 – Community Action for Decent Lives
 July-September - 14 Kitchen Table Talks

4. Kitchen Table Talks – Purpose
 To host informal discussions of what decent
lives and strong neighbourhoods mean
 To provide input to Kitchener and Waterloo
‘strong neighbourhoods’ strategy
 To open discussion in neighbourhoods that
are affected by the building of the LRT

5. Selecting Neighbourhoods
 Supportive, seniors and/or subsidized housing or rental housing
stock
 Absence of community facilities such as community centres, health
care services etc.
 Child development risk status
 Proximity to proposed LRT stations and stops
 Low voter turnout in previous elections
 Higher numbers of food bank users
 Presence of sidewalk access issues identified by Disabilities and
Human Rights Group project in 2013.
8 Kitchener, 3 Waterloo neighbourhoods first priority (all factors)
4 Kitchener, 2 Waterloo neighbourhoods second priority (4 factors)

6. Participants
 Hosts invited through existing groups and communication networks
 110 participants in 14 sessions across Kitchener and Waterloo
 Many participants living outside
hosts’ neighbourhoods
 Reasonably good distribution of
participants across K-W

7. Demographic Profile - Age
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%
24 years of age or younger
25-44 years of age
45-64 years of age
65-74 years of age
75 years of age or older

8. Income
0.00% 5.00% 10.00% 15.00% 20.00% 25.00%
$0-9999
10,000-19,999
20,000-39,999
40,000-59,999
60,000-79,999
80,000-99,000
$100,000+
Unknown

9. Other
66% female
52% attained college, university or
higher education
34% live alone
26% not born in Canada
25% attained high school or less
22% English as second language
9% lived in Canada less than 10 years

10. Positive Feedback
 95% strongly agreed /agreed they understand the purpose
of the session
 94% strongly agreed/agreed they were able to contribute
to the discussion and share their knowledge and ideas.
 94% strongly agreed/agreed their ideas and opinions were
listened to.
 91% strongly agreed /agreed that the meeting ran
smoothly.

11. Thematic Analysis
What is a decent life?
What makes a neighbourhood strong?
What needs to happen to create
neighbourhoods able to support
decent lives for all?

12. What Is A Decent Life?
 Basic Needs are Met
 Participation
 Relationships
 Autonomy
 Access to Services
 Sense of Purpose
 Informal Supports
 Responsive Community Leadership
 Positive Attitudes

13. What Makes a Neighbourhood Strong?
 Social environment
- People and Connections
- Social and Other Activities
-Safe - No Crime
 Physical environment
- Amenities
- Accessible
- Transit
- Clean and Healthy Community
- Community Space - Indoors & Outdoors
- Distinctive Neighbourhood Features
 Leadership
- Working Together
- Voice and Influence
- Responsive Leadership
 Flexible to Deal With
Continual Change

14. What Needs to Change?
 Social Environment Realities
- People not engaged
- Systems not responsive
- Social patterns are divisive
 Physical Environment Realities
- Existing built environment can’t easily be changed
- Natural environment
 Making Change Happen
- Education, crisis, change system, good use of resources
- Defining the right size of the neighbourhood, planning
park composition

15. Observations
 Talking about neighbourhoods is not easy
 Talking about decent lives in neighbourhoods is also a
challenge
 Identifying own neighbourhood a challenge for most
 Participants who are low income or experience limitations
talk about neighbourhoods in more concrete and nuanced
ways
 Strong neighbourhoods are typically defined by strong
relationships; however, low income participants seem to be
more affected by the physical environment.

16. Next Steps
 Sharing the full report from all Decent
Lives conversations in 2015
Further exploration of the
top issues with the
Community Social Planning Council

17. Social Development Centre Waterloo Region
151 Frederick St, Suite 300
Kitchener ON N2H 2M2
Phone/TTY: 519-579-1096
Toll Free: 1-877-579-3859
Fax: 519-578-9185
Website: http://www.waterlooregion.org
What’s not to like?
f: Socialplanningcouncil
t: @SPCofKW