Fernanda Luz, Sherbrooke City Councillor, Évelyne Beaudin, Sherbrooke Mayor, and Jennifer Garfat, Lennoxville Borough Councillor. Photo by William Crooks
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Starting next week, residents of Sherbrooke are encouraged to keep an eye on their mailboxes for a survey, available in French and English, conducted by the City of Sherbrooke in collaboration with Léger. This survey, announced in Lennoxville June 10 at its Town Hall, marks the first phase of “Sherbrooke at the Service of its Neighbourhoods” (SSQ), a public participation initiative aimed at engaging the community to gather input on local services and municipal priorities.
In 2024, the City is initiating major consultations focusing on both the territory, with the drafting of an urban plan, and the population, through the SSQ participatory process, according to a June 10 press release.
The Municipal Indicator, developed by Léger, includes a series of questions that will inform the City’s reflections and allow for comparison with other municipalities of similar size. The survey process involves postcards being mailed to all households, expected to arrive between June 17 and June 21.
One person per household can respond using a unique, secure access code. Participants will be eligible for a draw to win one of four $250 gift cards. The survey will conclude once the sampling criteria are met.
The information collected will set the stage for the next steps of the SSQ initiative through to winter 2025. This includes citizen meetings to foster collective dialogue on the vision for “Tomorrow’s Sherbrooke” grounded in local living environments, discussion and consultation activities with community organizations, and the development of a work plan for these consultations.
The initiative aims to assess the quality of life and sense of belonging of Sherbrooke residents at the district and neighbourhood levels, measure public satisfaction with municipal services, and open a citizen dialogue to analyze opinions, suggestions, and comments on community development, local services, and the offerings of community organizations.
Detailed information about the survey and the initiative is available online at: sherbrooke.ca/sondage
At the June 10 press conference in Lennoxville, Sherbrooke Mayor Évelyne Beaudin emphasized the importance of redefining the role of boroughs, noting that Sherbrooke was one of only eight cities in Quebec with boroughs. She highlighted her personal experience with community engagement and the need for human, personalized service. Beaudin invited all Sherbrooke residents to participate in the survey to help guide decisions that align with the real needs of neighborhoods.
Sherbrooke City Councillor Fernanda Luz explained that the survey was crucial for obtaining the information necessary for the executive committee to make informed decisions. She highlighted Sherbrooke’s values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and stressed the importance of giving a voice to all citizens, regardless of political affiliation or background.
Lennoxville Borough Councillor Jennifer Garfat, representing the Lennoxville borough in place of Borough President Claude Charron, highlighted the importance of maintaining Lennoxville’s distinct character and community spirit despite demographic changes. She noted that Lennoxville, once a separate city before the 2002 mergers, had managed to retain its unique identity.
Garfat pointed out the challenges of meeting the needs of both long-time residents and newcomers. She urged Lennoxville citizens to respond to the survey to better understand their needs and adapt services accordingly, aiding the integration of new residents while respecting the needs of long-time citizens.
The three provided more information in a media scrum after their prepared remarks.
Over two decades ago, there was a significant merger during the municipal amalgamations. Now, there’s an interest in understanding the population’s satisfaction with the current system, where many services have been centralized for efficiency. However, some services might benefit from remaining decentralized or even increasing their decentralized presence. The goal is to provide the best service to the population, emphasizing the importance of belonging to different boroughs versus the city as a whole.
The sense of belonging can drive community engagement, encouraging residents to volunteer, attend borough council meetings, or develop projects with borough officials. Cultivating this pride within the population is seen as beneficial in the long run.
Questions were raised about the types of information to be collected through the survey. The survey aims to determine if some services could be brought back or if the number of positions in various boroughs could be increased. However, specific outcomes depend on the survey results, which will guide future reorganizations.
The survey, conducted with the polling firm Léger, will also provide comparable data from other cities. It includes questions about residents’ satisfaction with various services and their sense of belonging. The questions are designed to be neutral to avoid biasing the results.
Following the survey, the next step involves citizen meetings in the six former boroughs to promote proximity and dialogue. These meetings will not just be Q&A sessions but opportunities for more in-depth discussions and debates.