Official Community Plan

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MEETING OUR GOALS THROUGH SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE

People are at the heart of this OCP. Regardless of personal circumstance, all residents need to be included and feel a sense of belonging to maintain Courtenay’s spirit. Therefore this OCP recognizes that social planning and infrastructure are as critical to community well-being as traditional forms of municipal infrastructure such as roads, pipes, and parks. It takes a community to support and celebrate each other. The City’s approach to social infrastructure will be to foster collaborative working relationships with diverse community partners, as well as support the conditions for social networks to deepen. This people-centric approach will be important in meeting social needs as well as nurturing behaviour changes that are needed for a climate friendly Courtenay. The City will contribute and work towards an expanding network of formal and informal spaces and services to bring residents together to volunteer, collaborate, receive and give supports, have fun, and get things done. Supporting each other, lowering our collective and individual carbon footprints, and preparing for the impacts of climate change are activities that will be particularly important at the neighbourhood scale.

People who previously were unable to enjoy the city because of unmet needs will discover more supports. People who have historically been excluded from public process will be equally valued, and their unique needs and aspirations will be included and represented. Structural inequities will be reduced through affordable housing , safe and accessible public spaces, social programming, and more representation in civic decision-making. Because individual and community well being are influenced by a broad range of personal, social, economic, and environmental conditions in which we grow, live, work and age, social determinants of health will be considered at the root of community decisions. This includes approaches to community safety that are founded on trauma informed, culturally safe and restorative justice practices. Given the diversity of social determinants of health (Figure C-1), other critical social infrastructure elements such as affordable housing , affordable, safe and accessible transportation, parks and recreation, arts and culture, community participation and a commitment to reconciliation and addressing inequities are covered elsewhere in this OCP.

City of Courtenay Official Community Plan