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!

Call Out for Participation

Calling all Community Associations! CAFES and Carleton University are once again partnering to hold the 5th annual Community Engagement Project with a 2nd year sociology/anthropology course this Fall (September to the end of November 2025). This year, the theme will be Invasive Plant Species. We are looking for 6-7 Community Association to sign up to participate (see green button below for the Expression of Interest Form).

Project Description

The intent for this project is for students to partner with representatives from Community Associations/Organizations across Ottawa - who are part of the CAFES network - to gain real-life community engagement experience and create products and deliverables on the chosen topic.

For the Community Association (CA) leaders, this project is an opportunity to learn, engage and connect with university students and have your neighbourhoods benefit from the deliverables the students are able to create for you. For the students, the intent is for them to analyze and discuss insights and experiences gained as they bring their conceptual learning from the course together with their experience working towards real-world objectives in their chosen communities.

This year, both students and community leaders will have the opportunity to learn and share expertise on invasive species management in the City of Ottawa, including municipal programs/policies, local stewardship initiatives, species of concern, how invasive species impact biodiversity and ecological health, and how we can increase public education/awareness on this important issue. If your CA has particular interest and/or experience with invasive species, it would be wonderful to have you on board.

Level of Commitment for Community Associations

• Participating CA’s need to identify at least two representatives to co-lead the project.
• Commit 2-4 hours per week between September 4th and November 27th to work with your student team.
• At least one CA representative is expected to be in class (on campus) each week on Thursdays from 4:00pm to 5:30pm, from September 4th to November 27th, to work with your students on your projects. It is okay if one of the co-leads has to miss class occasionally, as long as the other can attend. Note that October 23rd is reading break so there is no class.
• At least one CA representative MUST be available to lead students around your neighbourhood on the Thursday, September 11th neighbourhood walking tour (date to be confirmed).
• At least one representative MUST be available to attend the Thursday, September 25th workshop at Fletcher Wildlife Garden (date to be confirmed).

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Is your CA interested in participating? Visit the link below to express your interest!

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Please read the Project Information Sheet (posted below) for more information on project activities and objectives. Also be sure to check out CAFES’ 2024 project post to see some of the incredible deliverables the students created last year (last year's theme was on pollinator gardening).

For questions or more information, please contact Erica Shardlow at eshardlow@cafesottawa.ca.