Understanding Community Engagement at Cameron Recreation Centre

I recently visited Cameron Recreation Centre to learn more about how community input is being gathered for upcoming projects.

Prior to attending, I had applied to participate in one of the engagement sessions. These sessions are structured as small, closed-group discussions led by a third-party consultant. While I wasn’t able to sit in as an observer, the experience provided valuable insight into how this process is currently being conducted.

This type of approach can be useful for gathering detailed and focused feedback. At the same time, it raises an important question: how is broader public input captured and reflected alongside these smaller, structured sessions?

For projects that impact the entire community, it’s important that the engagement process is clear, accessible, and inclusive. Residents should understand not only how decisions are made, but also how their voices contribute to those outcomes.

I’ll continue to follow this project closely and look for opportunities to engage with the community on this and other important issues across Burnaby.