Kidsviews: Toronto's Young People Speak for Their Future

A joint project of the City, Toronto's public and separate school boards and local street-oriented youth counselling agencies, Kidsviews gathered the views and concerns of students from grades 1 to 13 and Toronto's street kids in a report to guide planners preparing a new Official Plan for the Central Area.

The project was a key component of the public participation process for the Central Area Official Plan Review. The review, Cityplan '91, will influence the direction and shape of the area's future growth and development.

Nearly 8,000 students and more than 100 street kids participated in the six Kidsviews projects:

* “Citytalk,” a student conference on urban issues;

* “Art Says,” an exhibition at City Hall of more than 200 paintings, models, posters, murals, poems, plans and essays;

* “A Model City,” a two-day workshop where teams of students planned and built a new City neighborhood using Lego blocks;

* “Write On!,” a survey that asked students and street kids to identify buildings and places they like, where they feel comfortable or afraid, and neighborhood sights, sounds and smells;

* “The Development Game,” where role-playing students grappled with conflicting views to prepare a redevelopment proposal for waterfront lands; and

* “Students Plan Toronto,” an in-class assignment where students worked in groups to prepare their own official plans.

A 104-page report called “Kidsviews” summarizes the project and includes examples of surveys and exercises used in the program, including Creating Your Own City Charter, The Development Game, Write On! Survey.