Portage la Prairie Social Planning Initiative: Phase One Report

Abstract

The Institute of Urban Studies (IUS), in partnership with the Portage Community Network (PCN), undertook a public engagement process to produce a social planning framework for the city of Portage la Prairie. This report highlights the findings of the process and provides 26 recommendations. It also includes a demographic profile and mapping study of the city, a summary of findings from the stakeholder and public engagement process, and a review of social planning theory and practices. The overall intent is to gain an initial understanding of the issues at hand, and to set out the theoretical and practical issues involved in social planning. Staff at the IUS engaged in reviews of best practices in social planning, emphasizing small cities; analyzed demographic data related to social conditions in Portage la Prairie; engaged in broad consultation with key informants and residents about social needs and assets; identified social policy and program areas of strength and weakness, and proposed improvements and additions to the programming environment; and proposed elements, dimensions and values into an evaluative framework to guide the production of a social plan, and suggest indicators to gauge its effectiveness.