Urban Strategies is currently working with the City of Kitchener as the Engagement Lead on their Official Plan Review, known as Kitchener 2051. The project will shape Kitchener’s fast-paced growth and respond to city-building challenges (e.g. housing, climate, inequity) as well as emerging opportunities (e.g. mobility technologies, workforce evolution, cultural diversity). The Engagement Program designed by Urban Strategies is rooted in the values of inclusive, equitable, respectful, meaningful, and responsive engagement, which looks to ensure the new Official Plan will be anchored in and shaped by the voices and experiences of the community. Partnering with SpruceLab, Urban Strategies is also helping to shape the Indigenous Engagement workstream, which is focused on meaningful relationship-building and consultation with the Six Nations of the Grand River, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and local Indigenous organizations and community members.
Partnering with SpurceLab, Urban Strategies is also helping to shape the Indigenous Engagement workstream, which is focused on meaningful relationship-building with the Six Nations of the Grand River, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and local Indigenous organizations and community members. The tactics used to-date have been wide-ranging – from a citywide Block Party to launch the event which engaged more than 1,200 people to monthly Community Working Group meetings and technical workshops with industry interest holders to collaborate on ideas, and pop-ups around the City to engage residents and community groups in more intimate conversations, as well as online surveys and engagement activities – with the aim to build broad awareness, community capacity, and trusting relationships, and go deep on big ideas and transformative actions for Kitchener’s future. Urban Strategies is also leading branding and providing communications support, with an eye on keeping messaging clear, compelling and relevant to Kitchener’s diverse communities.










Key Team Members

Melanie Hare

Emory Davidge

Yasmin Afshar
