By Cecilia Nasmith
The Municipality of Port Hope has announced its selection by Toronto-based non-profit Community Researchers to participate in the first intake of a new research initiative this summer that will help inform the direction of the municipality's youth programming.
Community Researchers connects young researchers with established mentors to conduct important community projects. Its official mandates are to provide opportunities for youth and new graduates to establish careers (as well as to provide insights and data to community organizations which are unable to access professional research firms), publish insights from research projects, and make reports accessible to community organizations across Ontario and beyond.
“Prominent organizations have a responsibility to lead the industry’s research and development,” Port Hope Mayor Bob Sanderson noted in the announcement.
“Municipal recreation departments have struggled during the pandemic, and our outstanding Parks, Recreation and Culture team is excited to collaborate with Community Researchers and its academic partners on this important research and development initiative.”
Earlier this year, Community Researchers announced a call for proposals to award complimentary research projects to organizations across Ontario. After an extensive review of applications, a proposal submitted by the Municipality was one of eight projects selected. Other successful candidates included The Canadian National Exhibition, Gardens Ottawa, and Parks and Recreation Ontario.
These research studies will analyze data and offer solutions to help organizations navigate the pandemic and adapt to changing market conditions. To undertake the projects, Community Researchers will recruit and train eight community-minded researchers from Brock University's Centre for Sport Capacity, the Centennial College School of Hospitality, Tourism, and Culinary Arts, and The Bridge at University of Toronto Scarborough. Researchers will participate in a training program, receive support from their faculty and earn academic credit for leading the projects.
Community Researchers Executive Director Michael Harker said this unique initiative, the only one of its kind in Canada, holds the promise of both short- and long-term benefits in many areas.
“Awarding eight much-needed community research projects is an outstanding initiative on its own, but the Community Researchers program will also deliver sustained benefits by helping eight young community-minded researchers build careers,” Harker said.
“Additionally, top-line results from all studies will be shared extensively, benefiting organizations throughout Ontario and beyond.”
These projects will be completed by August 2021. Community Researchers will offer another Call for Proposals later this year.
