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September 21 and 22
2 days, 2 disciplines, 2 ways to participate – defining our professional roles and uniting to build more equitable, accessible and inspired communities.
#2GETHER2022
Municipal infrastructure projects follow the municipal class environmental assessment (MCEA) planning process. The MCEA is a streamlined planning and approval approach that provides municipalities with a way to self-assess and guide their projects. It includes a detailed evaluation of strategy alternatives to identify a preferred solution that not only solves the problem but also minimizes impacts to the surrounding area. A key component of the MCEA process is stakeholder engagement. It encourages early agency and public participation to build a better foundation for future design stages. COVID-19 was the catalyst for planners to rethink and reimagine engagement strategies through use of virtual technology. This new lens recognizes the challenges with achieving successful and meaningful engagement with stakeholders. It contributes to the evolution in engagement strategies with an aim to reach a greater audience and incorporate public feedback into the planning process. This session provides an overview of the MCEA process. It explores each phase of the planning process, highlighting the key stages of stakeholder and public engagement. The presentation provides an overview of virtual technology platforms that can be used for stakeholder engagement, sparked through the COVID-19 pandemic. It also highlights the importance of a balanced evaluation process for infrastructure planning. Project examples will be used to showcase the MCEA process and engagement tools.