The document summarizes responses from a town hall where community members were asked three questions about creating healthy neighborhoods and 21st century learning spaces. For the first question on making neighborhoods thriving, responses focused on gathering places, schools, community centers, accessibility, and green spaces. For the second question on how learning spaces can nourish communities, responses emphasized lifelong learning, multi-generational spaces, accessibility, collaboration, and practical skills. For the third question on what 21st century learning looks like, several models were proposed that featured libraries, healthcare, green spaces, multi-use facilities, and spaces for people of all ages.

2. 2 of 8
What does a 21
st
century learning space look like? This was the question Edmonton Public School
Board Trustee for Ward H, Nathan Ip and MLA for Edmonton Whitemud, Dr Bob Turner wanted to pose to
constituents during a co-hosted town hall on May 30
th
, 2017 that was held at Lilian Osborne High School
Library. What follows are the community’s verbatim answers to three pivotal questions…
1. What would make your neighbourhood a healthy, thriving place to live?
2. How can a 21
st
century learning space nourish your community?
3. What does a 21
st
Century Learning Hub/Space look/feel like?
These answers are the very beginning of long-term conversation that is necessary to guide future policy
and build our future infrastructure.

3. 3 of 8
Question 1: What would make your neighbourhood a healthy, thriving place to live?
A gathering place
Children
Schools
Churches
Religious gatherings
Community leagues
A community centre with a
school
Community based learning
Walkability
distance/transportation
Technology used positively
Intergenerational interaction
Resource accessibility
Available resources that
serve their corresponding
demographics
Extended access, that goes
beyond 5:30pm typical close
time
Flexibility, inclusivity
Dedicated spaces
Dual credit opportunities
Earning credit learning skills
A big recreational centre
Connecting to local business
Newsletters/websites to
share information with
community
All in one space
Public library
Volunteer guilds
Medical facilities
Support for local
economy
Multiuse building
Youth programming
A safe place for youth to
spend their time
Multi-use faith centres
Multigenerational day care
centres
Community garden (that’s
accessible to everyone)
Spray parks for kids
Free play spaces, forest
paths
Farmer’s markets
Documentary film screening
movie room/theatre
A safe place for people of the
community to learn about
Indigenous culture and the
land
EPL
A place for various clubs and
councils,
Wrap-around services for the
community
Senior’s drop-in centre
Mental health service space
Cultural community services
for the community
Diversity
Socioeconomic
Culture
Ages
Stages of families
Outdoor spaces
Ponds
Walking trails/paths
Green spaces
Meeting places/cafés
Play/recreation space
Ethnic food cafés
Finicality accessible
amenities
Local service providers
Public transit
Bike paths
Community green space
Different kinds of housing to
attract different people
Opportunities to meet
neighbours for everyone
(families, people without kids,
youth, seniors)
Increase interaction between
neighbours (diversity)
Front porches
Parks
Track and field

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Question 2: How can a 21
st
century learning space nourish your community?
Learning spaces
Library
Parenting
Schools
Indoor greenhouse
Community kitchen
Housing
Repurposed buildings versus
tear down and building new
Community health centres
Medical
Dental centres
Mental health
Active learning free for kids
Sports, both casual and
organized
Creative space
Music
Art
Dance
Performance
Youth activities
Connecting seniors with
younger children
Government offices
accessible/within community
Eliminating barriers
Cost
Accessibility
Inclusivity
Multi-faith centres
Opportunity for relationship
building
Places to come together
and interact
Accessibility
Multigenerational
Preventative health
Outside summary pod
Lessons
Flexible spaces and hours
Evenings and weekends
Staff
Food growing
Outdoor spaces
Third spaces (safe and
neutral)
Collaboration place
Health services (including
mental health addiction
services)
Good ambiance
Comfortable furniture
Nice colours
Windows
Access to art
Opportunities for discussion
and debate
Healthy food and
nourishment, as a community
initiative
Place to bring diversity
Age
Gender
Socioeconomic
To the neighbourhood
Home schooling
Distance schooling (high
school)
Skills focused (not
memorization)
Entrepreneurs (50+ fast
growing sectors)
Encourage lifelong learning
Pragmatic learning curriculum
that is flexible
Trades (practical programs in
high school)
University that allow “adults”
Currently limited to ten
courses
Different learning
opportunities
Cross pollinating learning
Flexible learning space and
pace
Having early childhood,
school age, adults learning in
the same space from each
other
Everyone is a learner
School is an element of, it
isn’t the first and only thing
Change over from school
to…
Multipurpose space
Design appropriate
Need meeting place
Culture programs
Shared computers for
example
Many streams of funding
Community functions –
commercial and
community kitchen(s)
Continued learning,
lifelong learning
Both old and young
opportunities for all to
learn
Day care of school care
Modular building
Support for passionate
people to make things
happen
Recreation at school
Childcare transportation
Diverse families
Public space is home
Community involvement
Opportunities for all ages
Accessible location
Place to build financial
literacy
E.g. courses on paying
taxes
Physical space
Accessible washroom
Community space where
people
Want to visit
Feel welcome
Feel like you belong
Accessible
See yourself represented
Youth voice is prominent
(not lacking)
Making parents feel more
welcome
Balancing security and
welcome
Variance in school
Schedule to
accommodate parents
More life skills
programming
Youth engagement
Allowing the community
to access public school
spaces
Bridging the gap between
generations

5. 5 of 8
Question 3: What does a 21
st
Century Learning Hub/Space look/feel like?
Model/ describe/imagine the 21
st
century school.
Model 1
Free gathering spaces for all ages
Kitchen
Space to eat and dance/perform
Play games
Gyms/exercise space
Natural spaces
Trees
Ponds
Rocks
gardens
Web of support and connection
Services
library
playground
garden
kitchen
day care
gym space
all ages learning
practical/theoretical
technology sandbox
sports – accessible, open to all
tutoring/mentoring (flexible days and
times)
workshops/art space
artist in residence

6. 6 of 8
Model 2
recreation spaces
seniors centre
school as the centre
green space next to the school (gardens
surrounding building)
library next to the green space
health centre attached to school
open stair cases
warm, inviting looks
wooden furniture
warm colours
big windows
encourage easy access from one centre to the
other
“donut” model of a community learning centre as
the centre
integrated into residential community (not
separate area)
work with the landscape
cluster of buildings and facilities that smell like a
village
Model 3
quiet space for seniors
shaped like a square or a hexagon
library
day care
school
park is heart/centre common space
green café
stores
community league offices
youth centre
francophone centre
public and private spaces (variety of rooms for
use)
choice of religious classes if desired at school
fitness centre
transit centre
grocery store

7. 7 of 8
Model 4
political support from all levels (commitment,
assistance)
welcoming (inclusive)
collaborative (service delivery)
safe
accessibility (physical, financial, transportation)
culture, community kitchen, music
life skills learning
creativity spaces
arts
cultivating community talent
‘from school to a lifelong learning centre for all’
multiuse recreational centre
Model 5
circular/oval shape with garden as the heart, in
the middle
library
medical/dental/mental health clinic
meeting rooms
sports activities
a jogging track that surrounds the entire area
a place that preserves history and heritage
repurposed building(s)
multigenerational housing
glass dome
circular building
encouraging volunteerism
Model 6
virtual learning web
adults
professionals
library
gymnasium
leveraging community/human resources
mentorship models

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