Research Units and ClustersResearch ProjectsResourcesSaskatoon – According to a recent Centre for Policy Alternatives
groundbreaking study on inner city community development, a unique form
of ‘bottom up’ development in Saskatoon and Winnipeg has been created
largely by core residents themselves.Professor Jim Silver, University of Winnipeg, says in his study, “The
Inner Cities of Saskatoon and Winnipeg: A New and Distinctive Form of
Development, ”this new form of community development holds considerable
promise for resolving the problems arising from spatially concentrated
racialized poverty.”The successes of Saskatoon community-based organizations,
particularly Quint Development Corporation’s housing programs and
CHEP’s food security programs, are characteristic of the new
development strategies.“Station 20 West, an ambitious social enterprise project is the most
recent manifestation of Saskatoon’s emerging community development
model,” Silver says. When completed it will see the construction of a
grocery store, 55 units of affordable housing, a childcare centre, a
dental and community health clinic, a public library and office space
for community based organizations.Aboriginal community-based organizations are also at the forefront,
particularly the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company. SNTC is
delivering several youth- oriented programs focusing on the
transformative powers of traditional Aboriginal teachings as a means of
developing Aboriginal people’s capacities, Silver says.“This asset-based approach identifies and builds on community
strengths and develops people’s capacities to solve their own problems.”To ensure long term success Silver says “governments must fashion a
more deliberate and strategic approach to create a sustainable
community infrastructure. And governments need to work hand-in-hand
with these community-based organizations to build a more coordinated,
strategic and transformative approach to the spatially concentrated
racialized poverty of these neighborhoods.”
For more information contact Shauna MacKinnon at 204-927-3202.
See the press release and download the report free of charge from the CCPA website.
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