Innovating Solutions for Today’s Challenges: Livable Communities

Introduction

On September 23, 2024, the NEXTNiagara Council, in collaboration with the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce, hosted Engage 2024.  The aim of this event was to create a space for young professionals and community leaders to have open conversations about what livable communities could and should look like in Niagara.

The event featured two interactive roundtable sessions, the first focused on the current state of Niagara, and the second on potential solutions for the short-, medium-, and long-term. The goal was to collaboratively develop ideas that could inform future decisions by regional leaders, based on the wants and needs of the under-40 community in Niagara.

The findings compiled here are reflective of attendees’ views and perspectives on what makes a livable community, areas for improvement within the region, things the region should be proud of, and what they would like to see in towns and cities across the region in the future.   

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Findings

Attendees consistently highlighted Niagara’s natural beauty, community-oriented atmosphere, and proximity to major urban centres as key strengths. The region’s diverse outdoor spaces, vibrant tourism and hospitality sectors, robust agricultural industry, and relatively affordable cost of living are significant draws, alongside its advantageous geographical location near the US border and major metropolitan hubs.

However, key challenges to regional growth and livability were also clearly articulated. The most common were:

Public Transporation

Inefficient, infrequent, and costly transit services limit mobility, economic growth, and attractiveness to young professionals and families. There is a particular concern regarding connectivity between municipalities and the broader Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Affordable Housing:

A significant shortage of genuinely affordable and diverse housing options, particularly impacting single-parent families, young professionals, and those transitioning from rental to home ownership.

Downtown Revitalization:

Stagnation and lack of vibrancy in downtown cores, particularly St. Catharines, with concerns around safety, empty storefronts, and limited nightlife and cultural offerings.

Healthcare Accessibility:

Shortages of family doctors, mental health resources, and fragmented healthcare delivery systems, exacerbating the challenges of regional retention and community health.

Economic & Career Opportunities:

Limited stable career paths, lower salary levels compared to nearby urban centers, and significant reliance on seasonal or tourism-related jobs all create challenges in retaining young professionals..

Recommendations

To address these common concerns, attendees proposed a structured set of recommendations segmented into immediate, medium-term, and long-term actions.

Immediate recommendations:

• Establish dedicated community spaces and targeted supports for entrepreneurship to encourage community engagement, inclusivity, and economic activity.
• Pilot accessible micro-transit solutions in underserved areas, and initiate targeted marketing to increase transit use.
• Enhance accessibility infrastructure comprehensively, such as ramp installations, automated doors, accessible crosswalks, and pedestrian-friendly streetscapes.
• Encourage strategic community partnerships for enhanced communication and engagement in local events, initiatives, and resource-sharing.
• Create and support dedicated queer spaces and youth-oriented community hubs.

Medium-term recommendations:

• Expand and enhance regional public transportation networks, including increased frequency, safer routes, and targeted services in rural and underserved communities, as well as employer-supported transit initiatives.
• Actively revitalize urban cores by developing vibrant, multi-use spaces to attract residents and visitors, including nightlife hubs, cultural venues, arts districts, and pop-up entrepreneurial spaces.
• Foster employment initiatives specifically tailored for young professionals and recent graduates through strategic partnerships between local businesses, educational institutions, and industry leaders.
• Accelerate the construction and improvement of genuinely affordable housing, ensuring diverse options that meet varied family and income needs, and implement incentive programs for developers.
• Improve regional awareness of public amenities and opportunities to attract newcomers and retain residents.
• Expand healthcare services, including incentivizing the recruitment and retention of family doctors and mental health practitioners through educational and financial support programs.

Long-term recommendations:

• Implement a comprehensive restructuring of regional governance to streamline processes, improve responsiveness, reduce political gridlock, and enhance coordination between municipalities.
• Develop extensive regional transit infrastructure, including frequent and reliable GO Train service, transit-oriented development, and improved connectivity with major urban centers.
• Prioritize sustainable, dense urban development, repurposing vacant buildings and underused areas into residential and commercial spaces while preserving and expanding green spaces.
• Strengthen healthcare infrastructure through collaborative initiatives among educational institutions (such as Brock University and Niagara College), healthcare providers, and government entities, creating robust training, educational, and service delivery ecosystems.
• Establish regional centers of excellence focused on aligning industry, academia, and community organizations to promote sustainable economic growth and retain talent.
• Support innovative housing models such as communal living spaces and front-yard urban agriculture initiatives.

Cross-cutting themes emphasized the necessity of regional collaboration among government, business, educational institutions, and community groups. Participants advocated for an integrated approach to policy-making that addresses transportation, housing affordability, economic diversification, and sustainable urban development simultaneously.