Geneviève La Roche, Chair of the Land Use Planning Commission, day camp animators, and some young urban planners confer on Sherbrooke’s future look. Photo: William Crooks
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
On July 30, a city-led event was held in Sherbrooke, where City Liaison Officer Olivia Letendre engaged with local day campers to discuss the city’s new urban planning initiative. The event aimed to involve the community’s youngest members in shaping the future of their city. The meeting also featured Geneviève La Roche, Chair of the Land Use Planning Commission, and Stéphanie Côté, Urban Planning Project Manager, who explained the importance of urban planning in accessible terms.
Letendre opened the event by expressing gratitude to everyone involved and emphasized the significance of the children’s input, stating, “The City of Sherbrooke wants to hear from you because you are our citizens today and our citizens of tomorrow as well.”
The children were encouraged to share their thoughts. Letendre posed thought-provoking questions such as, “What do you like about your city, what do you dislike about your city?” and “If you were mayor for a day, what would you change?”
La Roche explained her role as a municipal councillor, saying, “I work, I am elected. That means people in my district voted for me to represent them at City Hall with our mayor.” She outlined how decisions are made about various community amenities, such as parks and pools.
Côté introduced the concept of urban planning, asking, “Does anyone know what urban planning is?” When the children seemed unsure, she elaborated, “Urban planning decides where schools, parks, and how we get around the city will be. Do we walk, bike, drive, or take the bus?” Côté highlighted the importance of planning for public services, including water supply and road infrastructure.
The children participated actively, sharing their preferences for urban features. One child expressed a love for flowers, “because they’re beautiful and colourful.” Another mentioned enjoying the sight of squirrels, while a different camper was concerned about lost cats.
The session continued with a creative activity where the children drew their likes and dislikes about their neighbourhoods. This hands-on exercise aimed to make the planning process more engaging and accessible for the young participants.
A wider audience, online resources
The City has reached out to all residents to participate as well. Three public participation kits are available on the city’s website and at borough offices, catering to different age groups (5 to 12 years, 12 to 17 years, adults), according to a same day release.
These kits are designed to help groups and individuals independently engage in the planning process. They contain activities and resources to guide participants through discussions and feedback on urban development. The completed kits can be submitted online or in person at City Hall or borough offices, with the deadline for the adult kit being Sept. 1 and the youth kit on Oct. 1.
Additionally, the city invites residents interested in urban development to complete a 20-question online survey by Sept. 1. The survey, which takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete, will help inform the city’s Urban Plan, with a preliminary version to be presented in 2025. The public is also encouraged to use idea boxes, attend open houses, and participate in citizen workshops as part of this comprehensive public participation effort.
For more details, visit: sherbrooke.ca/plan-urbanisme or call 819-674-3174