The goal of this 2-year CIHR-funded project is to explore how participatory visual methods, specifically photovoice and digital storytelling have been adapted to online and hybrid platforms to support community-based research and related social change agendas.

In partnership with a youth advisory committee (YAC) and team of peer researchers, this CIHR-funded project validated the efficacy of Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research’s youth sexual health and harm reduction resource “Sexfluent”. CCBR worked alongside CANFAR and York University as a research partner on this research, and provided YAC coaching, peer researcher training, and analysis support.

With funding from Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada, Immigrant Services Association in Nova Scotia (ISANS) partnered with CCBR to pilot & evaluate tailored equity & anti-racism tools designed to enhance services for racialized immigrants in four  sectors – volunteerism, family support services, disability support services and recreation. These tools were developed collaboratively with partner organizations from each of these sectors over a period of two years.

Two community-based research projects with Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) were conducted with a mutually reinforcing goal of institutional change. The first project developed an equity, diversity, and inclusion strategy across CMU, using a systems change framework and theological lens and the second project explored what it means for diverse constituent groups to hold CMU in common.

Located at Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre, the Trip! project is a youth-led harm reduction information service for the dance music scene and youth who use drugs. CCBR partnered with stakeholders to conduct a community-based evaluation that explored how well the program model aligned with:1) current drug using trends amongst youth; and 2) PQWCHC’s values, vision, & mission.

CCBR worked closely with Food Banks Canada to enhance the evaluation framework for their After the Bell program. Drawing on insights from qualitative discussions with staff and partners, we strengthened both the processes and outcomes of their evaluation, with attention to the impact of their program through an equity, diversity and inclusion lens. 

CCBR supported the Bell Brass Family Resource Centre evaluation through a series of capacity-building and coaching events. These events equipped BBFRC to use a community-based approach when conducting an internal evaluation of its CAPC/CPNP & other Early Years programming. Topics covered included theories of change, surveys, data analysis, and reporting and acting on findings.

The Family and Child Health Initiative partnered with CCBR to leverage our expertise in community-based participatory research on several projects, each seeking to address childhood and family health from a structural and social determinants of health lens. Projects foci includes: physical activity amongst adolescents; youth peer support and type 1 diabetes; building trusting, equitable, family violence prevention, and responsive healthcare during COVID-19.

CCBR worked with the Guelph-Wellington Local Immigration Partnership (GWLIP) to prepare them for a community-based evaluation of their network.  CCBR conducted a document review and conversations that informed the design of the evaluation framework. The final evaluation framework included an evaluation purpose, evaluation questions, a network logic model, a measurement matrix, and an evaluation workplan.

This project was initiated and funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) as part of the Service Delivery Improvement stream and involved multiple phases of research and community consultation to develop a Peel-specific model for governing settlement funding. The Peel Newcomer Strategy Group was invited by IRCC to facilitate this process in partnership with the Centre for Community-Based Research.