Projects

Municipal Natural Assets Initiative

As one of five municipalities selected to team up with the Municipal Natural Assets Initiative (M.N.A.I.) to become a M.N.A.I. community, the City will have access to expertise, support and guidance from M.N.A.I. in identifying, valuing and accounting for natural assets in Oshawa’s financial planning and asset management programs. The project began in summer 2018 and is studying the Oshawa Creek and involve students and faculty from University of Toronto.

Active Transportation for an Age Friendly Community research study

In 2018, the City began a collaboration with Ontario Tech University and the Oshawa Senior Citizens Centres on a research study to understand both barriers and promoters of the active transportation of older adults residing in Oshawa. The study will include recommendations on how to address identified barriers with a goal of increasing active transportation in the community, advancing the City’s Active Transportation Plan, and helping to inform the City’s planning policies.

Diversity & Inclusion

In 2017, the City of Oshawa and Ontario Tech University collaborated on a research project to create the City’s first Diversity and Inclusion Plan. The plan was subsequently approved in principle by Oshawa City Council. The Diversity and Inclusion Plan provides a strategic framework to guide the City as it continues to work toward an inclusive and welcoming city for all. The Plan’s action items address the goals of fairness, justice and non-discrimination to ensure community members have equal access to employment opportunities, programs and services, and feel welcome and involved in the community.

Hackathon

The first-ever TeachingCity Hackathon took place in March 2018. Providing students an opportunity to propose a solution to a public policy challenge around the theme of improving residential rental housing in Oshawa, the event saw 10 teams of students from all three organizations – supported and mentored by faculty, City staff, and community and business leaders – compete for a chance to win $1,500.

Smart Cities Challenge

In 2018, the City, in partnership with key stakeholders including TeachingCity partners Durham College, Ontario Tech University, and Trent University Durham GTA, embarked on a community-driven initiative to compete to win up to $10 million via the Infrastructure Canada Smart Cities Challenge. An extensive public consultation process identified community needs, project ideas and challenge areas and helped determine Oshawa’s priority issue for the Challenge. Submitted in April 2018, the City’s submission focused on empowering residents in low-income neighbourhoods by improving access to digital technology and the ability to access the services required to fully participate in the economy. The submission aimed to enhance economic and social equality across Oshawa.

TeachingCity Hub

On May 14, 2018, the City and its TeachingCity partners celebrated a successful first year with the opening of the TeachingCity Hub in downtown Oshawa.

Located at 1 Mary Street, the hub is an open-concept space designed to facilitate TeachingCity projects with the City’s education and research partners, including students, faculty and staff. Providing opportunities for TeachingCity partners to share access to facilities, resources and equipment, and offering office, classroom and open lab space, the hub is used for TeachingCity partnership meetings, collaborative learning opportunities and co-design.

TeachingCity Hub Mural

A recent Durham College graduate from the college’s School of Media, Art & Design will collaborate with TeachingCity partners to create and install a mural at the TeachingCity Hub. The artwork will reflect the partnership’s key principles: collaboration, innovation, applied research, experiential learning and knowledge transfer.