From September to December 2025 CAFES once again partnered with Carleton University on the fifth annual Community Engagement Project with a 2nd year sociology/anthropology undergraduate course. This year, the theme was on Invasive Plant Species. Thank you to Kanata Beaverbrook, Hintonburg, Overbrook, Old Ottawa South, Bel Air, Hunt Club and Riverside Community Associations for participating in this year's project!
The intent for the project was for students to partner with representatives from Community Associations (CA) across Ottawa - who are part of the CAFES network - to gain real-life community engagement experience and create projects/deliverables on the chosen topic.
For the CA leaders, this project was an opportunity to learn and connect with university students and have their neighbourhoods benefit from the deliverables the students are able to create. CA leaders had the opportunity to share expertise on invasive species management in Ottawa and how we can increase public awareness on this important issue. For the students, they were able to analyze insights and experiences gained as they brought their conceptual learning from the course together with their experience working towards real-world objectives in their chosen communities.
Students did an excellent job this year creating videos, posters, artwork, educational brochures, lesson plans, door to door campaigning, event planning, social media posts - all about invasive plant species management and awareness! Stay tuned for a full project post on the CAFES website that will show off the students' amazing projects.
Check out the photos below of some of the students engaging with their community association leaders throughout the course and delivering their final presentations in class on Thursday, November 27th!
