Research Projects

Oppenheimer Park Community-Led Violence Reduction Initiative

Status: Completed

Project Lead: Penelope Gurstein

Other: Kathleen Heggie

This project investigated how programming in Oppenheimer Park (Vancouver, BC) contributes to safety and social cohesion in and around the area, and how this could be improved by additional community-led violence reduction initiatives. Research included: reviewing literature on social cohesion and community safety in socioeconomically challenged neighbourhoods; identifying relevant case studies of community-led violence reduction strategies; and interviewing participants. The study participants were Carnegie Community Centre management and Oppenheimer Park staff members, who were asked to describe the Park's circumstances and what kinds of violence-reduction strategies would be most effective and feasible.  The final product was a report that offered through words and graphics best practices in community-led violence reduction initiatives.