Author: The Record
Published January 14, 2025

Photo by William Crooks
Speaking at the meeting: Sarah Morin – representing the Lennoxville Farmers Market, Gino Rouleau – Lennoxville Coordinator, Jennifer Garfat – Borough Councillor, Christian Collins – Lennoxville Library Coordinator, Dr. Claude Charpentier – Bishop’s University Psychology Prof., Brooklynn Roy – Lennoxville Youth Centre Director, and Sylvie Fowlis – member of the Advisory Committee for Social and Community Development (ACSCD)

A glimpse into 2024 successes and 2025 plans

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

The Borough of Lennoxville is once again calling on its residents to get involved in shaping the community’s future with the 2025 Participatory Budget initiative. This year, the borough has allocated a $6,000 fund to support community-driven projects that aim to enhance neighbourhood life. From Jan. 13 to Feb. 7, residents and local organizations can submit project proposals that will benefit the Lennoxville community. The successful projects will be chosen by the residents themselves through an online voting process.

At a recent public meeting held at the Amédée-Beaudoin Community Centre, Gino Rouleau, the borough’s coordinator, outlined the framework for the participatory budget and shared highlights from the 2024 initiatives. The meeting featured presentations from two organizations that had received funding in the previous year: the Lennoxville Library and the Lennoxville Farmer’s Market.

Christian Collins, the coordinator of the Lennoxville Library, discussed how the library used its $2,800 funding to offer a variety of public programs aimed at families and children in Square Queen. Since the pandemic, the library has partnered with the Farmer’s Market to bring activities outside the traditional library setting. With the grant, they were able to hire professional facilitators to lead ten different workshops throughout the summer, ranging from magic demonstrations to robotics and forensics workshops, as well as hands-on creative activities like Shibori, a Japanese tie-dye technique. One of the most popular events was the Shibori workshop, where participants used indigo dye grown locally in Square Queen to create unique fabric designs. Over the course of the summer, 124 participants engaged in the library’s programming, with an average of 15 participants per event.

Collins emphasized that the funding not only allowed them to offer engaging activities but also brought the community together in a meaningful way. “It gave us the means to do something that we wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise,” he said. He hopes that this initiative will continue annually, providing a valuable opportunity to connect with the community beyond the library’s walls.

Similarly, Sarah Morin of the Lennoxville Farmer’s Market shared how the market utilized its participatory budget funding for a vibrant opening event. The market, which has seen growing popularity since its establishment, used the grant to host a grand opening featuring a giant marionette and performances by various artists, including dancers and street performers. The event drew large crowds and was a hit with both market vendors and visitors alike. “The response was really positive,” Morin said. “It allowed us to welcome more people and create excitement for the start of the season.”

Looking ahead, the 2025 Participatory Budget will continue to prioritize projects that foster community engagement and civic participation, according to follow up information provided by Rouleau. This year’s budget envelope is set at $6,000, with each project eligible for up to $3,000 in funding. In addition to supporting local organizations, individuals can also propose projects, as long as they are backed by a non-profit organization located within the borough. The projects must primarily benefit the residents of Lennoxville and take place on public property.

A new feature for this year’s program is the additional focus on enhancing community spaces. Projects that involve urban furniture or permanent infrastructure enhancements are eligible, provided they are located on public property. However, projects that are similar to those funded in 2024, or those that focus on fundraising, are excluded from the 2025 program.

The process for applying is straightforward: proposals must include a detailed budget estimate, and eligible projects will be presented to the public in February, with a chance to ask questions and vote for their favourites in an online poll. The projects with the most support will be announced in March.

The participatory budget initiative is a chance for residents of Lennoxville to directly shape the future of their community by funding projects that reflect the interests and needs of local citizens. For those interested in submitting a project, the deadline for applications is Feb. 7, 2025. The full criteria and application process are available online.

As the participatory budget evolves in 2025, it promises to continue its tradition of enriching Lennoxville’s cultural, social, and civic life by empowering its residents to bring their ideas to fruition. Whether it’s through educational programs, community gatherings, or public space enhancements, the possibilities are endless.

For more information about submitting a project, residents can visit the borough’s website or reach out to Rouleau for guidance.

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