(SAULT STE. MARIE, ON- November 30, 2022): CityStudio Sault Ste. Marie is an innovation hub at Algoma University that brings together municipal staff with post-secondary students, faculty and community to co-create innovative projects that contribute to key strategic goals and priorities of Sault Ste. Marie. Our vision is for a more joyful, sustainable, and equitable Sault Ste. Marie where youth are deeply engaged with problem-solving and civic leadership.
“The collaboration between Algoma University students and faculty and city staff through CityStudio has been a great success and has resulted in some amazing projects so far,” shared Travis Anderson, Director of Tourism and Community Development. “The unique perspectives and problem-solving skills the students are bringing to solve important community issues is so exciting to see.”
For students, this is a unique experiential learning opportunity to work directly with city staff to solve real-life challenges, gain valuable employment skills, and become more engaged citizens. Cross-cultural learning between Indigenous communities and other communities is at the heart of the student learning experience at Algoma as aligned with its Special Mission, and as demonstrated in some CityStudio projects.
“CityStudio encourages students to become more civically engaged, boosts innovation and drives a collaborative process that benefits everyone involved,” shared Jody Rebek, Assistant Professor with the School of Business and Economics at Algoma University. “It provides meaningful opportunities for my students to apply their skills with hands-on, real-time experiences that are directly integrated into their coursework. Students develop team-building competencies and professionalism that engage them in knowledge-creation, research, and analysis to creatively apply their skills to present real-world solutions to community challenges.”
CityStudio Sault Ste. Marie will once again be celebrating the work that students, faculty, staff and community members have done this semester in a virtual project showcase on Thursday, December 8 from 11:00 am-1:00 pm. The HUBBUB #2 showcase is a free virtual community event with an opportunity to learn more about the projects, chat with all our collaborators and give insight on the priority areas that inspired these initiatives.
“HUBBUB #2 has such a diverse line-up of projects that there will be something for everyone to learn from and enjoy,” shared Erin Riley, CityStudio Innovation Hub Coordinator. “It’s a fantastic showcase of what our students are capable of when given the opportunity to engage with the city and collaborate on initiative solutions to the real challenges facing our community right now.”
Here is a sneak peek of the 5 projects being highlighted at HUBBUB #2:
- Waste Management App- Creating a mobile App to improve communication with the community about issues relating to waste management.
- Winter Tourism- Building a strategic plan for how to increase tourism during the winter months.
- Age-Friendly Communities- Increasing social participation with seniors in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Watershed Remediation Project – Identifying, designing, and implementing a watershed remediation project in Sault Ste. Marie.
- Revitalizing Bon Soo – Revitalizing Bon Soo to draw in a larger and more diverse demographic of tourists to SSM.
For free registration to HUBBUB #2 virtual showcase go to: https://www.accelevents.com/e/citystudiossm2
For more information contact CityStudio Sault Ste. Marie Project Coordinator Erin Riley at [email protected]
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