PUBLIC MEETINGS
As individuals who speak up about neighbourhood issues and voice our concerns at public meetings, we bring personal experience and commitment as well as event planning skills to clients who need to involve the public in their policy- and decision-making. We find venues which are well known and easy for the public to get to. We collaborate with facilitators to develop engaging programs. We create stakeholder lists and effective publicity. Event planning for public meetings has taken us all over British Columbia and into venues as varied as gyms, community halls, senior centres, Canadian Legion halls, and tents. Some recent examples are:
Wild Salmon Community Meetings
From 2006-2009, DKE planned, promoted and coordinated over 20 public meetings for the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council (PFRCC). Held in communities all over British Columbia, the meetings asked for input about the status of wild salmon stocks and salmon habitat. Representatives from other fisheries agencies expressed amazement at our ability to “pack the hall” at these meetings.
Keeping the Door Open (KDO)
Dialogues on Drug Use: DKE has planned public events in Vancouver for this drug policy reform NGO for the past decade. These have included a community leaders’ dinner, an international harm reduction film festival, symposia and community meetings. Event locations have included non-traditional Downtown Eastside venues as well as the custom built Wosk Centre for Dialogue in downtown Vancouver.
East FraserLands Design Charrette
For ParkLane Homes, the City of Vancouver and the New Urbanist planning firm, Duany Plater-Zyberk, DKE planned and coordinated an eight-day program of design charrettes and public meetings. To accommodate the design team and space for up to 100 participants, DKE set up a huge climate controlled tent on a 100 acre former industrial site – one of the last large development sites in the city. The public were invited to participate actively in shaping development plans for this major land-holding.