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Cogswell Storytelling Engagement Program

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Cogswell District Project Background

The Cogswell District Project is one of the largest community building projects in Halifax’s history. The project, which started in 2013, focuses on removing downtown Halifax's Cogswell Interchange and replacing it with a welcoming and vibrant neighbourhood.

The municipality has worked with many residents and consultants since the project's launch. Specifically, many aspects of the Cogswell Project's design were shaped by a public engagement program that took place in 2018 (the engagement report can be found here). Construction on the Cogswell District Project began in 2021 and regular construction updates continue to be posted here.

The Need for Storytelling

2018 public engagement found that there was a strong interest in celebrating the stories and cultures of Indigenous, Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian/African Descent communities within the Cogswell District. These communities want more public spaces throughout the municipality that speak to and celebrate their lived history. The Cogswell District Project provides a unique opportunity to explore this need through community-driven work within an area that is connected to their history and has new public spaces.

In order to proceed, the municipality must hold community-focused engagement events with Indigenous, Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian/African Descent communities to understand what storytelling (e.g., any aspect of culture, history, art, teachings, etc.) and placemaking opportunities should be pursued.

Cogswell Storytelling Engagement Program (June - October 2024)

This Cogswell Storytelling Engagement Program is a community-led partnership that will identify and facilitate the Mi'kmaw and African Nova Scotian stories and histories that should be celebrated through art and interpretation within the Cogswell District, including meaningful ways to present and locate these stories. The municipality has hired two consultants - one from each community - to lead the engagement programs during the summer of 2024. Each consultant will:

  • execute engagement that is tailored to the unique needs of each community
  • identify and facilitate the specific stories and histories that are connected to, and should be celebrated within, the Cogswell District
  • identify what forms of art, interpretation, programming, and placemaking are effective at conveying specific stories and histories
  • create an engagement program summary report that outlines the collected input and storytelling priorities
  • summarize details that a designer needs to produce and fabricate physical storytelling elements in the future (likely beginning in 2025)

Feedback collected through these engagement programs will guide future stages of the Cogswell Storytelling work, including the design and installation of physical storytelling features.

African Nova Scotian and African Descent Engagement

Ignite Consulting, specifically DeRico Symonds and Kate MacDonald, led the African Nova Scotian / African Descent engagement program. Ignite strives to put people first, support our communities and be a catalyst for meaningful change. The duo also has significant experience in African Nova Scotian engagement and they have collaborated with the municipality on other projects.

Ignite Consulting held two in-person engagement events with the African Nova Scotian / African Descent community (June 25 and July 24), along with two virtual engagement sessions (September 11 and 15). Ignite also interviewed community leaders and community groups, and released an online survey to collect additional storytelling ideas for the project.

Mi'kmaw and Urban Indigenous Engagement

Lyndsay Francis, who is of Mi’kmaw heritage and a member of the Acadia First Nation, and Kristen Elkow led the Cogswell Storytelling Engagement Program with the Mi'kmaw and Urban Indigenous community. Lyndsay and Kristen are both professional planners who excel at community engagement, coordinating community projects and developing social policy.

As part of their engagement program with the Mi'kmaw and Urban Indigenous community, Lyndsay and Kristen held storytelling circle #1 (August 1), a virtual engagement session (August 7), a focus group with the Sircle of Sisters (August 28), and storytelling circle #2 (August 29). The linked images (or graphic illustrations) summarize the input collected during each event.

Lyndsay and Kristen also produced engagement workbooks (which residents were asked to complete and return at their leisure), interviewed key community elders / leaders, and held a final focus group in mid-September.


Cogswell District Project Background

The Cogswell District Project is one of the largest community building projects in Halifax’s history. The project, which started in 2013, focuses on removing downtown Halifax's Cogswell Interchange and replacing it with a welcoming and vibrant neighbourhood.

The municipality has worked with many residents and consultants since the project's launch. Specifically, many aspects of the Cogswell Project's design were shaped by a public engagement program that took place in 2018 (the engagement report can be found here). Construction on the Cogswell District Project began in 2021 and regular construction updates continue to be posted here.

The Need for Storytelling

2018 public engagement found that there was a strong interest in celebrating the stories and cultures of Indigenous, Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian/African Descent communities within the Cogswell District. These communities want more public spaces throughout the municipality that speak to and celebrate their lived history. The Cogswell District Project provides a unique opportunity to explore this need through community-driven work within an area that is connected to their history and has new public spaces.

In order to proceed, the municipality must hold community-focused engagement events with Indigenous, Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian/African Descent communities to understand what storytelling (e.g., any aspect of culture, history, art, teachings, etc.) and placemaking opportunities should be pursued.

Cogswell Storytelling Engagement Program (June - October 2024)

This Cogswell Storytelling Engagement Program is a community-led partnership that will identify and facilitate the Mi'kmaw and African Nova Scotian stories and histories that should be celebrated through art and interpretation within the Cogswell District, including meaningful ways to present and locate these stories. The municipality has hired two consultants - one from each community - to lead the engagement programs during the summer of 2024. Each consultant will:

  • execute engagement that is tailored to the unique needs of each community
  • identify and facilitate the specific stories and histories that are connected to, and should be celebrated within, the Cogswell District
  • identify what forms of art, interpretation, programming, and placemaking are effective at conveying specific stories and histories
  • create an engagement program summary report that outlines the collected input and storytelling priorities
  • summarize details that a designer needs to produce and fabricate physical storytelling elements in the future (likely beginning in 2025)

Feedback collected through these engagement programs will guide future stages of the Cogswell Storytelling work, including the design and installation of physical storytelling features.

African Nova Scotian and African Descent Engagement

Ignite Consulting, specifically DeRico Symonds and Kate MacDonald, led the African Nova Scotian / African Descent engagement program. Ignite strives to put people first, support our communities and be a catalyst for meaningful change. The duo also has significant experience in African Nova Scotian engagement and they have collaborated with the municipality on other projects.

Ignite Consulting held two in-person engagement events with the African Nova Scotian / African Descent community (June 25 and July 24), along with two virtual engagement sessions (September 11 and 15). Ignite also interviewed community leaders and community groups, and released an online survey to collect additional storytelling ideas for the project.

Mi'kmaw and Urban Indigenous Engagement

Lyndsay Francis, who is of Mi’kmaw heritage and a member of the Acadia First Nation, and Kristen Elkow led the Cogswell Storytelling Engagement Program with the Mi'kmaw and Urban Indigenous community. Lyndsay and Kristen are both professional planners who excel at community engagement, coordinating community projects and developing social policy.

As part of their engagement program with the Mi'kmaw and Urban Indigenous community, Lyndsay and Kristen held storytelling circle #1 (August 1), a virtual engagement session (August 7), a focus group with the Sircle of Sisters (August 28), and storytelling circle #2 (August 29). The linked images (or graphic illustrations) summarize the input collected during each event.

Lyndsay and Kristen also produced engagement workbooks (which residents were asked to complete and return at their leisure), interviewed key community elders / leaders, and held a final focus group in mid-September.