NIMBYs, newbies and non-conformists: local knowledge in community planning

Neighbourhood groups play a variety of roles in the communities in which they operate, including significant activities that contribute to community building and as agents of local knowledge in community planning processes. In a city with distinct socioeconomic lines and development patterns, the inclusion of a range of public voices representing the diversity of needs and community assets in planning processes is integral to ensuring decisions will be meaningful to those they impact most. This research considers how neighbourhood groups may contribute to community planning decision-making in Toronto through the conveyance of local knowledge and the potential role they may play through City Planning’s processes for public participation. Key Words: Neighbourhood Groups; community planning; local knowledge; public engagement